Iranian tankers receive special entry to Indian ports

India has allowed two Iranian vessels, including an older tanker and one under US sanctions, to enter its ports to accelerate energy supplies from the Persian Gulf, Reuters reports, citing two informed sources.

The world’s second-largest liquefied natural gas importer is facing its most severe gas crisis in decades. The government is limiting industrial supplies to ensure households have gas for cooking.

According to the sources, the LNG tanker Aurora, approximately 30 years old, was authorised to dock at the southern port of Mangalore. Another tanker, Jaya, which is under US sanctions, was also permitted to unload.

Officials emphasised that such exceptions are granted only in specific cases and only for vessels meeting safety criteria. 

Typically, India requires tankers older than 20 years to have a seaworthiness certificate from the International Association of Classification Societies or an authorised Indian maritime authority, and ships under US sanctions are usually prohibited from entering Indian ports.

Previously, Iran bypassed Western sanctions by delivering oil using a “shadow fleet” of older tankers without proper documentation. India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas have not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.

By Jeyhun Aghazada