Indian LPG Ships Stranded at Strait of Hormuz
The Indian shipping ministry reported on Tuesday that approximately 300,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are currently stranded aboard six Indian-flagged vessels at the Strait of Hormuz. This situation has raised concerns as the vessels remain on standby in the western Gulf region. Among these ships, the Nanda Devi successfully reached the Vadinar facility at Kandla Port early Tuesday morning, carrying 46,500 tonnes of LPG. The ministry confirmed that the remaining 22 vessels, which include a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, four crude oil carriers, one chemical products ship, three container ships, and two bulk carriers, are still awaiting further instructions regarding their movements.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the special secretary in the shipping ministry, explained that each LPG vessel typically carries around 45,000 tonnes of gas. He noted that updates on the remaining ships will be provided as their situations evolve. Currently, the unloading process for the LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi is underway, with Nanda Devi utilizing a ship-to-ship transfer method. Sushil Kumar Singh, chairman of Kandla Port, visited the Nanda Devi and reported that the unloading rate is between 800 to 900 tonnes per hour, and the crew members are in good health.
Government Response and Port Operations
In response to the situation, all central government-owned ports are actively monitoring vessel movements and cargo operations. They are also providing essential support, including additional storage space to accommodate the stranded cargo. For instance, VO Chidambaranar Port has allocated approximately 90,000 square meters for transshipment containers to help alleviate congestion.
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Sinha also addressed the congestion issues at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), stating that the number of perishable containers has decreased from around 2,000 to approximately 1,000. This improvement is attributed to two key factors: some containers have returned to the domestic market, and several vessels have departed for ports in Oman and the UAE. One additional vessel is scheduled to leave on Tuesday, carrying about 200 containers. Sinha anticipates that the number of stranded containers will further decline to around 600 within the next 24 to 48 hours.
