Strait of Hormuz transit: Indian LNG carrier Disha reaches key shipping lane safely

An LNG carrier chartered by an Indian company has crossed the Strait of Hormuz without incident. The ship is the first Indian LNG tanker to use the route since the West Asia war began over three and a half months ago. The passage also follows a preliminary ceasefire deal announcement between the United States and Iran.

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LNG Carrier Disha is managed by a Shipping Corporation of India-led consortium and is chartered by Petronet LNG Ltd. The vessel is carrying 62,370 tonnes of LNG. The ship is expected to reach Dahej in Gujarat on June 18. Upesh Kumar Sharma, Director in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, shared the details.

Strait of Hormuz LNG carrier Disha reaches India route again

At a news briefing, Sharma said: "As we speak now, LNG carrier Disha, managed by a Shipping Corporation of India-led consortium, has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, and she is carrying 62,370 metric tons of LNG cargo, he said.\" Disha had been among vessels held up in the Strait during the conflict. The ship later resumed its voyage to India.

India meets about half of its natural gas demand through LNG imports. Roughly 65 per cent of these LNG supplies come from Gulf producers such as Qatar. These cargoes usually move through the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruption to this corridor can affect shipping schedules and supply planning for importers.

Strait of Hormuz LNG shipments disrupted after February 28 strikes

The shipping corridor became effectively closed after military strikes on Iran. The United States and Israel launched the strikes on February 28. Tehran responded with retaliatory action, which disrupted movement in the region. Qatar later declared force majeure on LNG deliveries to multiple buyers, including India.

Sharma said 15 vessels have crossed the waterway safely so far. The total includes 10 Indian-flagged ships and five foreign-flagged vessels. The LNG carrier is expected to be the latest to reach India after a safe transit. Officials tracked ship movement as the region remained under close watch.

Strait of Hormuz Indian seafarers safety monitored by Directorate General of Shipping

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said it stays in regular touch with key agencies. The coordination runs through the Directorate General of Shipping. It includes the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, shipping companies, and other stakeholders. The aim is to protect Indian seafarers and vessels operating in the area.

On a reported tanker incident earlier this month, Sharma named the vessel as Bochem Marengo. The ship is a Hong Kong-flagged oil and chemical tanker. Sharma said: \"All Indians on board remain safe. There is no injury or any other untoward incident on the crew of the vessel, he said.\" The ministry continued to verify crew welfare.

The ministry also said it is managing cases involving Indian seafarers in distress. Support measures include appointing local agents when required. In one case, a vessel reached shore on June 14. The mortal remains of a deceased seafarer were moved to Oman. The remains were then sent for repatriation to India.

Sharma said about 18,000 Indian seafarers are employed across the wider Gulf region. A 24-hour helpline remains available for seafarers and families. More than 3,500 seafarers have been brought back safely so far. The ministry continued to track assistance requests from vessels in the region.

According to the ministry, around 325 Indian seafarers are on Indian-flagged vessels west of the Strait of Hormuz. It also said 13 Indian ships are deployed in that area. The Directorate General of Shipping advised RPSL companies and other stakeholders to use high caution in conflict zones.

The advisory also asked operators to follow prescribed security and safety steps during transit. Sharma said the ministry is monitoring the situation with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of External Affairs. Updates will continue as developments unfold, while vessels and crews remain under active review.

With inputs from PTI