Ships With 3 Million Barrel Oil for India Cross Hormuz
Marine tracking websites show that the crude oil tanker had departed from Saudi port Ras Tanura on March 3rd
New Delhi: A foreign-flagged vessel carrying oil for India has managed to cross the war-hit Strait of Hormuz to reach Mumbai, while another large ship is likely to reach Indian ports in a day or two, according to vessel tracking data and industry sources. The two carriers will bring 3 million barrels of crude oil to India.
According to sources in the Centre, Reuter reported, Iran has agreed to allow Indian-flagged tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian source, however, denied any such deal was reached.
Liberia-flagged ‘Shenlong’, carrying around 1 million barrels of Saudi Arabian crude oil, was the first crude carrier to reach India from West Asia since the war between Iran, and the United States-Israel alliance broke out in late February, according to LSEG data. The customer is state-run Bharat Petroleum Corp., said a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
The other tanker — an Indian-flagged VLCC or a very large crude carrier — with around two million barrels of Iraqi crude too reached Indian waters and is now headed to Paradip in Odisha. It is likely to reach its destination in a day or two.
If Iran agrees to allow vessels carrying crude oil for India to pass, it will be a big victory for the Indian government and will provide relief to India in sourcing energy supplies.
However, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal refused to say if the reports were correct or false.
India's “external affairs minister and the foreign minister of Iran have had three conversations in recent days. In the last one, they discussed issues pertaining to the safety of shipping and India's energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” he said.
At another briefing, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, said 28 Indian vessels were struck because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. 24 of them, with 677 seafarers on board, are on the west side of the strait, and four with 101 seafarers are on the east side.
“All Indian vessels and crew are being actively monitored for their safety,” he said.
Asked about India-bound vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz, he said, “I do not have any authentic information”.
