India-linked LPG tanker attempts rare Hormuz transit

An India-linked supertanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is attempting a rare transit through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting India’s efforts to ease a severe energy shortage.

The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Sarv Shakti, loaded with about 45,000 tons of LPG, was tracked moving north past Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands on Saturday, May 2, heading toward the Gulf of Oman. Ship-tracking data indicates the vessel is bound for India and is signalling that it has an Indian crew, a precaution increasingly used since the conflict involving Iran escalated.

According to a shipping document seen by Bloomberg, state-run Indian Oil Corp. is listed as the buyer of the cargo, though the company has not commented.

If completed, the voyage would be the first observed passage by an India-linked tanker since a US blockade targeting Iran-linked shipping sharply reduced traffic through Hormuz. It would also rank among the largest vessels to attempt the crossing since a brief and chaotic reopening of the strait last month.

India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and second-largest LPG consumer, has been struggling to offset supply disruptions from the Middle East. Shortages of cooking gas have led to public concern, long queues, and reduced availability.

Since late February, when US and Israeli strikes on Iran began, New Delhi has prioritised LPG shipments, directing ports to fast-track these vessels and boosting domestic production. However, efforts were disrupted in April when Iran briefly reopened the strait before military action forced ships to turn back.

India has since managed to move eight LPG carriers through Hormuz following negotiations with Tehran, while also increasing domestic LPG output by 60% to 54,000 tons per day. Consumption has fallen by 10,000 tons to 80,000 tons daily, according to Oil Minister Hardeep Puri.

Sarv Shakti, which entered the Persian Gulf in early February and loaded cargo via a ship-to-ship transfer near Dubai, could take 10 to 14 hours to complete the transit. However, electronic interference and deliberate signal suppression in the region complicate tracking.

By Tamilla Hasanova