Two UAE LPG carriers and a Saudi crude oil tanker are on their way to India to fill the current energy supply gap, according to the sources based on the situation. The growth is against the background of increasing tensions in the Persian Gulf due to the conflict between the US and Iran that has not only stalled the shipping, but also made the Indian Navy Chief, Dinesh Tripathi to abort his official visit to Australia and New Zealand.
The MV Jag Vasant and MV Pine Gas Indian-flagged LPG vessels left their ports in the UAE at 6 a.m. IST on Monday and were at a safe distance of five nautical miles apart. The vessels had a total of 92,612.59 metric tons of LPG on board and Iran allowed them to pass through the highly contested Strait of Hormuz. The Jag Vasant, which had 33 Indian seafarers, is supposed to reach Kandla port on March 26, and Pine Gas, with 27 Indian crew-members on board, is due to reach New Mangalore on March 28. The vessels will be escorted by Indian navy warships within 24 hours in the Gulf of Oman after which they will proceed to the west coast ports.
At the same time, the crude oil tanker (Panama-flagged) MT Kallista is loading in the Yanbu port of Saudi Arabia and will leave on Tuesday heading to the Paradip port, using Jeddah. The ship will also be escorted by the navy along the Gulf of Aden which will be coordinated with the petroleum ministry.
The regional situation is not calmed down, and missile and drone attacks in the Persian Gulf are regular. The seafarers in India going through these waters are under stress but the Navy and shipping bodies are making regular contact with them which is reassuring them that they are safe and at ease.