NEW DELHI: An India-linked liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker has successfully transited the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz, marking a rare and significant development amid US blockade. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Sarv Shakti, carrying approximately 45,000 tons of LPG, a key cooking fuel, was tracked moving into the Gulf of Oman after passing Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands on Saturday, according to ship-tracking data.
The very large gas carrier has previously operated between the Persian Gulf and Indian ports and is currently broadcasting its destination as India. The vessel is also reported to have an Indian crew, a precautionary measure increasingly adopted by ships navigating the region since the onset of the Iran conflict. According to a shipping document reviewed by Bloomberg, state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is listed as the buyer of the cargo.
Sarv Shakti’s voyage is particularly notable as it represents the first observed passage by an India-linked tanker since a weeks-old US blockade targeting ships associated with Iran sharply curtailed maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Transits through the vital chokepoint had dropped to nearly zero levels following the blockade. The vessel is also among the largest carriers to make the outbound crossing since a chaotic weekend last month, when the strait was briefly reopened before being rapidly shut again.
Crisis-driven energy movements amid Hormuz disruption
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and the second-largest consumer of LPG, has been facing the supply disruptions caused by the conflict in the West Asia. In response, New Delhi has prioritised the safe passage of LPG shipments. Since the United States and Israel initiated strikes on Iran at the end of February, the Indian government has taken multiple steps to secure fuel supplies. These include directing ports to prioritise LPG carriers for berthing and discharge, as well as ramping up domestic production.
However, efforts to stabilise supply chains were disrupted during an April weekend when Iran initially declared the Strait of Hormuz open, only for its military to fire upon vessels attempting to cross shortly thereafter. The incident forced several ships to reverse course. During that period, one India-linked vessel, the Aframax-sized crude tanker Desh Garima, managed to pass through the strait.
Since then, maritime traffic through Hormuz has largely come to a standstill, exacerbating supply challenges. Despite these conditions, India has successfully facilitated the movement of eight LPG vessels through the strait during the ongoing conflict, largely through bilateral negotiations with Tehran. Simultaneously, the country has been exploring alternative supply routes and strategies.
Domestic adjustments and vessel tracking complexities
To mitigate the crisis, India has significantly increased its domestic LPG production by 60 per cent reaching 54,000 tons. At the same time, consumption has declined by 10,000 tons to 80,000 tons per day, according to Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Sarv Shakti itself entered the Persian Gulf in early February and received its cargo through a ship-to-ship transfer off the coast of Dubai. However, Bloomberg News reported that it could not immediately determine the exact origin of the LPG shipment. Such transfers are often used in complex supply chains, particularly during geopolitical disruptions.
A full transit of the Strait of Hormuz typically takes between 10 to 14 hours. However, navigation in the region has become increasingly complicated due to electronic interference, which can distort a vessel’s reported position. Additionally, some ships deliberately spoof their location data or switch off tracking systems entirely to avoid detection or mitigate security risks. The successful passage of Sarv Shakti highlights both the risks and strategic urgency underpinning India’s efforts to secure energy supplies amid a volatile regional conflict, even as maritime routes remain fraught with uncertainty and disruption.
