The India-flagged LPG tanker Jag Vasant made a safe landing at the Vadinar offshore terminal in the west coast of Gujarat on Friday evening having cleared through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Iran granted passage to the vessel that was transporting liquefied petroleum gas produced at the Persian Gulf, at a time when tension in the area was on the rise, officials confirmed.
Spokesperson of Deendayal Port Authority, Omprakash Dadlani, said that the tanker anchored at around 8 pm, a little later than anticipated because of regular changes in the navigations. The 230-metre-long ship was taken out through the international waters and its 14 crew members were said to be safe, healthy and in high spirits when they arrived.
The tanker under consideration belongs to the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and carries approximately 47,000 tonnes of LPG which is an essential fuel which is commonly used to cook in India. Law enforcement officials said that the cargo was to be moved to a different ship where additional distribution would be performed.
In the meantime, another LPG tanker, Pine Gas, chartered by Indian Oil Corporation, has also made a safe entry into the Indian territorial waters which will be officially confirmed in the near future.
The ships sailed through a specified route between the Iranian islands of Qeshm and Larak, the navigation of which was controlled by the Iranian naval forces. This route is now being critical following the recent geopolitical wrangles as Iran restricted trade in the Strait of Hormuz to disrupt a large chunk of global energy trade. With such difficulties, Indian vessels still have access to controlled access, which guarantees the constant supply of the necessary fuel resources.