Iran War : Two More Indian LPG Tankers Prepare To Sail Through Strait Of Hormuz

21st March 2026 at 12:39 PM

1 minute read

New Delhi : Two Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tankers are preparing to sail through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, even as crude oil shipments through the key route have come to a halt over the past 24 hours. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy flows, has seen disruption after Tehran warned it could target vessels attempting to leave the Gulf. Nearly 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass through this narrow waterway.

Market assessments on Friday showed no crude oil tankers had transited the strait in the previous 24 hours. Data from Kpler also showed that an empty crude tanker, under US sanctions, turned back towards Iranian waters on March 18. Against this backdrop, two Indian LPG carriers – Pine Gas and Jag Vasant – are positioned near Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed both vessels broadcasting signals that they are preparing for a voyage.

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in India’s shipping ministry, said details were not immediately available when asked about their movement. India’s foreign ministry has taken a cautious line, calling for secure transit of its vessels in the region. We are in favour of safe and unhindered movement of India’s fleet of 22 ships currently in the Gulf, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in touch with global leaders regarding their safe passage.

Recent ship-tracking data also showed a Pakistan-bound oil tanker successfully navigating the route, indicating that limited movement continues despite the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran. For now, the planned movement of the two Indian tankers is being closely watched, as it could signal whether commercial shipping is ready to resume through one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors.