LPG relief: MT Jag Vasant docks at Gujarat with 47,000 tonnes of critical fuel | WATCH

Jamnagar: A critical shipment of 47,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) arrived at the Vadinar Terminal of DPA Kandla on Saturday, providing a measure of relief to India’s energy sector amid ongoing volatility in West Asia.

The vessel, MT Jag Vasant, is scheduled to offload its cargo via a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer at anchorage. Sources told ANI that Indian Navy warships were positioned on standby to provide security for the merchant vessels during the operation.

Officials indicated that additional tankers are expected to arrive shortly as New Delhi manoeuvres to secure fuel supplies.

Security of Indian Seafarers

During a joint inter-ministerial briefing, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, stated that authorities are maintaining constant communication with maritime stakeholders.

"In the Gulf region, there has been no information in the last 24 hours regarding any incident involving Indian-flagged ships or Indian seafarers. All are safe," Sinha said.

Sinha noted that 20 Indian-flagged vessels, carrying approximately 540 Indian nationals, are currently operating safely within the Persian Gulf. He added that the Directorate General of Shipping’s 24-hour communication centre is actively managing the crisis, responding to 98 calls and 335 emails in the last day alone.

Diplomatic Push for Open Waters

The arrival of the LPG shipment follows India’s renewed demand on Friday for the protection of uninterrupted maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The government emphasised that international law must be respected to prevent further deterioration of the security situation in the Middle East.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that New Delhi is in close coordination with international partners to stabilise the region and protect national energy interests.

"We are closely following all developments in West Asia. We continue to call for ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of priority," Jaiswal noted.

The heightened vigilance comes as regional tensions continue to threaten the flow of energy from the Gulf, where recent hostilities have led to targeted strikes on maritime infrastructure.

With inputs from ANI