Mangaluru, March 22 (NationPress) In the midst of the global supply chain disruption, the cargo vessel 'Pyxis Pioneer' docked at New Mangalore Port on Sunday, delivering a significant load of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and enhancing the country's supply outlook.

This ship, which set sail from Texas, USA, arrived at the port with a total gross tonnage of 47,236 tonnes. Port authorities reported that the vessel is set to offload 16,714 tonnes of LPG.

Officials have confirmed that all necessary safety checks and unloading processes are currently being conducted at the port.

The arrival of this substantial LPG shipment is anticipated to bolster fuel availability throughout South India.

Prior to this, another cargo ship, known as 'Aqua Titan', successfully reached India, along with a vessel transporting Russian crude oil that also arrived in Mangalore, as noted by NDTV.

The Russian crude oil shipment followed a temporary general license issued by the US, allowing the sale of Russian crude oil that had been stranded at sea since March 12.

This initiative aims to stabilize global fuel prices amidst ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Simultaneously, India has significantly ramped up its imports of Russian oil, a decision made shortly after the US granted India permission to temporarily increase its intake of Russian oil.

This increase in procurement is aimed at addressing supply concerns arising from disruptions in oil flows from West Asia due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Previously, the Indian-flagged LPG tanker 'Nanda Devi' arrived at Vadinar Port in Gujarat, marking the second LPG carrier to reach the western coast this week following the 'Shivalik' vessel's arrival at Mundra Port.

Both ships have successfully delivered essential LPG supplies to India despite navigating through the perilous Strait of Hormuz, where maritime operations have been affected by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel.

A total of 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 Indian seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf region, with the DG Shipping continuously monitoring the situation in collaboration with ship owners, RPSL agencies, and Indian diplomatic missions.

Karnataka's Food and Civil Supplies Minister K.H. Muniyappa highlighted in the Legislative Council last Wednesday that the state is experiencing a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders and has requested hotel owners and other commercial entities to cooperate for a week until new supplies arrive.

Muniyappa indicated that approximately 40,000 commercial LPG cylinders are required daily in the state, yet only around 1,000 cylinders are currently available for hotels. He urged all stakeholders to be patient, expressing optimism that the situation would improve with the arrival of ships carrying LPG.

"Sixteen ships are currently queued in Iran. If they arrive, the problem will be rectified. The Centre is engaging in discussions with Iran to resolve the issue. If we can endure for a week, normalcy will be restored," he remarked.

"I appeal to hotel proprietors through this assembly that we are facing a crisis akin to war. They should rely on electric sources and manage for a week. We will make efforts to arrange for 10,000 to 15,000 cylinders and will confer with associations regarding distribution," he stated. Muniyappa also mentioned that another meeting with stakeholders is planned for next Monday (March 23) to assess the situation.