What Happened
- Five India-flagged very large gas carriers (VLGCs), loaded with approximately 2.3 lakh tonnes of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas/cooking gas), are stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing US-Iran military conflict blocking shipping through the waterway.
- Two of the vessels — Jag Vasant and Pine Gas — were permitted to transit the Strait and are expected to reach Indian ports between March 26–28, carrying about 92,600 tonnes of LPG.
- After the passage of these two ships, 20 Indian-flagged vessels with 540 Indian seafarers on board remain stranded west of the Strait; of these, five are loaded with LPG and one more is expected to be loaded, making six LPG carriers in total.
- The Indian government clarified that no special permission is required for vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz as it is an international waterway — but safety assessments are paramount given active military operations in the region.
- India has sharply cut LPG allocations to commercial and industrial users to prioritise household cooking gas supplies, given the supply disruption.
Static Topic Bridges
LPG in India's Energy Policy — Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Household Supply
LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) — a mixture of propane and butane stored under moderate pressure — is the primary cooking fuel for India's urban and semi-urban households and, increasingly, for rural households following major government schemes. Its disruption has direct welfare consequences.
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Launched May 1, 2016, by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Objective: provide LPG connections to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households to replace biomass/kerosene cooking. Target: 8 crore connections (Phase 1), later expanded; total connections under PMUY exceed 10 crore as of 2026.
- PMUY 2.0 (August 2021): Extended coverage to migrants and additional categories; provides one refill and stove free of cost.
- LPG distribution in India is handled by three Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs): IOC (IndianOil), BPCL (Bharat Petroleum), and HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum), under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
- India's LPG import dependency: Approximately 60% of domestic LPG is imported, primarily from Gulf producers (Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia) via VLGCs.
- Domestic LPG production: ONGC, Oil India, and downstream refineries supply the remaining ~40%.
Connection to this news: The five stranded LPG tankers represent a direct threat to India's household energy supply — the same supply chain that PMUY sought to make reliable and affordable for crore of BPL households. The government's priority allocation of available LPG to households (cutting industrial supply) is consistent with PMUY's welfare mandate.
Maritime Law — Transit Passage and Freedom of Navigation
The legal basis for India's position that "no special permission is needed" for vessels to transit Hormuz rests on UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and customary international law governing international straits.
- UNCLOS Part III (Articles 34–45) establishes the regime of "transit passage" for straits used for international navigation (defined under Article 37).
- Article 38: All ships and aircraft enjoy the right of transit passage in international straits; this right cannot be suspended by coastal states.
- Article 44: States bordering such straits shall not hamper transit passage; they must publish all navigational hazards.
- Key distinction from "innocent passage" (applicable to territorial seas under Article 17): innocent passage may be suspended temporarily by a coastal state for security reasons; transit passage in international straits may not.
- Iran — which controls the northern shore of the Strait — has signed UNCLOS (1982) but never ratified it. However, the transit passage regime is also part of customary international law, binding on all states.
- India ratified UNCLOS in 1995 and has consistently advocated freedom of navigation.
Connection to this news: India's government statement that no permission is required is grounded in UNCLOS Article 38. In practice, however, the safety risk from active military operations makes the legal right irrelevant without physical security — explaining why the two tankers that did transit required safety coordination and why the others remain stranded.
India's Shipping and Maritime Infrastructure — Flag State and Seafarer Context
A "India-flagged vessel" is one registered under the Indian flag — subject to Indian maritime regulations and carrying Indian documentation — under the oversight of the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
- The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 governs registration, safety standards, and manning requirements for India-flagged vessels.
- India is a signatory to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006 — which mandates minimum standards for seafarer welfare, including repatriation rights.
- The 540 Indian seafarers stranded west of Hormuz have rights under MLC 2006, including the right to be repatriated if vessels cannot be operated safely.
- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) — headquartered in London, established 1948 (functional from 1959) — is the UN agency for maritime safety and security; India is a member. India is a member of IMO's Council (Category C).
- Directorate General of Shipping (DGS): Functions under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; implements the Merchant Shipping Act; issues seafarer certificates of competency.
- Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs): Specialised tankers for LPG transport; typically 80,000–85,000 cubic metres capacity; flagged in various countries; operate under IMO MARPOL and SOLAS conventions.
Connection to this news: The safety of 540 Indian seafarers and the legal status of the India-flagged vessels are matters governed by the Merchant Shipping Act and India's international maritime obligations — bringing the DGS, MEA, and Ministry of Ports into the crisis response.
Key Facts & Data
- India-flagged LPG tankers stranded at Hormuz: 5 (loaded with LPG); 6 when the next loading completes
- LPG cargo in stranded vessels: ~2.3 lakh tonnes (~230,000 tonnes)
- Vessels that transited safely (March 23-24, 2026): Jag Vasant and Pine Gas (carrying ~92,600 tonnes LPG)
- Total Indian-flagged vessels stranded west of Hormuz: 20
- Indian seafarers stranded: ~540
- Expected arrival of transiting vessels at Indian ports: March 26–28, 2026
- PMUY LPG connections: 10+ crore (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, 2026)
- India's LPG import share: ~60% (primarily from Gulf)
- UNCLOS transit passage: Articles 34–45 (Part III); cannot be suspended (Article 38)
- India ratified UNCLOS: 1995
- Strait width at narrowest: 29 nautical miles (54 km); navigable channel: 3.7 km each direction