New Delhi, March 29: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed that two LPG carriers, BW TYR and BW ELM, each carrying a combined cargo of approximately 94,000 metric tonnes of LPG, are currently en route to India. According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, BW TYR is heading towards Mumbai with an estimated arrival date of March 31, while BW ELM is en route to New Mangalore, expected to arrive by April 1.
The Ministry further assured that all necessary measures have been taken to safeguard the safety and security of Indian vessels and seafarers in the region. It was confirmed that all Indian seafarers in the area are safe, with no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels reported in the last 24 hours. Currently, 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf. The Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), in collaboration with ship owners, RPSL agencies, and Indian missions, is closely monitoring the situation. The DG Shipping Control Room continues to operate around the clock, having managed 4,523 calls and 8,985 emails since its activation. In the past 24 hours alone, 92 calls and 120 emails were received. Additionally, DG Shipping has facilitated the safe repatriation of over 942 Indian seafarers, including four in the last 24 hours.
This update follows the arrival of 47,000 metric tonnes of LPG at the Vadinar Terminal of DPA Kandla in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on Saturday. The LPG carrier, MT Jag Vasant, will transfer its cargo to another ship through a Ship-to-Ship (STS) operation. Indian Navy warships are on standby to provide support to merchant vessels if needed.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime chokepoint, handles a large portion of the world’s oil shipments. Its security is vital to international trade and economic stability, especially amid ongoing tensions in the region following the US-Israel joint military strikes on Iran on February 28. In response to the security challenges, Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways stated that authorities are actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with all relevant stakeholders.
Earlier, India reaffirmed its call for ensuring safe and uninterrupted maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The Indian government emphasized the importance of upholding international law amid the escalating security situation in West Asia. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that New Delhi is in close coordination with global partners to maintain regional stability. "We are closely monitoring developments in West Asia and continue to prioritize safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," Jaiswal affirmed.
