India Continues Energy Shipments Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions

A vessel carrying 20,000 metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) arrived at the Deendayal Port Authority in Kandla after crossing the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Officials said the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel MV SYMI began its journey from Qatar and docked at the Gujarat port around 11:30 pm on Saturday after transiting through the Strait of Hormuz on May 13.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime energy routes, with nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies passing through the narrow waterway near the coast of Oman.

According to officials, since early March, 13 India-flagged vessels — including 12 LPG tankers and one crude oil tanker — have successfully crossed the strait despite heightened security concerns.

Shipping activity in the region has been disrupted following escalating conflict in West Asia after joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran earlier this year, followed by retaliatory actions.

At a special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC), India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Parvathaneni Harish, strongly condemned attacks on commercial shipping in the region.

Harish stated that targeting civilian vessels, endangering crew members, and obstructing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was unacceptable.

Earlier this month, an India-flagged commercial vessel sailing from Somalia was attacked off the coast of Oman. Omani authorities later rescued all 14 crew members.

The developments have intensified global concerns over maritime security, energy supply stability, and international trade routes in the Gulf region.