Indian LPG Tanker 'Shivalik' Successfully Docks at Mundra Port
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New Delhi, March 16 (NationPress) The first-ever Indian-registered LPG tanker Shivalik, which set sail from Qatar loaded with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), has successfully docked at Mundra Port in Gujarat on Monday after navigating through the Strait of Hormuz.
This vessel transported approximately 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG, and its safe arrival is anticipated to alleviate concerns regarding fuel shipments traversing this critical maritime route.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the special secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, stated during an inter-ministerial meeting that the tanker successfully transitioned into open waters following its passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
He mentioned that two Indian-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, are delivering a combined total of 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG to India. These vessels are owned by the state-run Shipping Corporation of India.
While Shivalik reached Mundra Port at 5 p.m., the other vessel, Nanda Devi, is projected to arrive at Kandla Port in Gujarat early the following morning.
Sinha assured that all Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf region are secure, with no reports of adverse incidents involving them.
According to government data, there are 22 Indian-flagged vessels in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, accommodating a total of 611 seafarers.
As Nanda Devi approaches Kandla Port, another vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying nearly 81,000 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, is also en route to Mundra Port. Both the vessel and all Indian seafarers on board are reported safe.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the globe's most vital shipping corridors, with nearly 20 percent of worldwide oil and gas exports transiting through it.
With ongoing tensions in the region, authorities are vigilantly overseeing the movement of ships to ensure the safety of Indian vessels and their crews.
The ministry stated, "Major ports across the nation are diligently monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations, providing assistance to shipping lines and cargo stakeholders, which includes concessions on anchorage, berth hire, and storage fees," during an earlier briefing.