LPG Tanker “Jag Vasant” Docks In Gujarat With 42,000 Tons Of Fuel After Navigating High-Risk Iranian Channel

A third Indian LPG tanker berthed at Gujarat’s Kandla Port on Friday, amidst the ongoing war between the U.S and Iran that has spilt into the Middle East and led to the closure of a key maritime chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, the tanker Jag Vasant began its journey to India with another LPG tanker called Pine Gas.

Jag Vasant was loaded with 42,000 metric tons of LPG, and the mid-sea transfer is expected to begin soon.

The two tankers took a longer route to transit the Strait of Hormuz via the Qeshm–Larak channel, instead of taking the straight path into the Arabian Sea.

When the ships began their journey, they sailed close to each other and changed their message from generic ones like “IND SHIP AND CREW” and “ALL INDIA CREW” to specific signals like “PINE GAS INDIAN SHIP” and “JGVASNTINDSHIPINDCRW” while sailing through the Larak channel.

This signals that the ships had already got the approval from Iran to transit the critical sea lane and were clearly broadcasting their identity so they would not be attacked while crossing the Strait.

Jag Vasant is the 3rd Indian LPG Tanker to reach India after passing through the strategic channel.

Two other tankers that came before it were Nanda Devi and Shivalik, which also docked in Gujarat.

Shivalik arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra Port on March 16, and Nanda Devi docked in Vadinar Port a day later.

Both tankers carried a total of 92,000 metric tons of LPG.