Govt confirms safe passage of 2 LPG tankers through Strait of Hormuz; 14-member crew rescued as Indian vessel sinks

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that two LPG carrier vessels carrying cargo owned by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) safely transited th...

What Happened

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed that two LPG carrier vessels carrying cargo owned by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) safely transited the Strait of Hormuz on May 13–14, 2026.
The two vessels are expected to arrive at Kandla Port (Gujarat) around May 16 and New Mangalore Port (Karnataka) around May 18.
Simultaneously, an Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel (MSV) named HAJI ALI — travelling from Somalia to Sharjah, UAE — caught fire and sank in Omani waters in the early hours of May 13.
All 14 crew members aboard HAJI ALI were rescued by the Omani Coast Guard and brought to Dibba Port in Oman; necessary formalities with local authorities were completed.
The Ministry of External Affairs described the attack on the vessel as "unacceptable," without attributing responsibility to any specific actor.

Static Topic Bridges

India's LPG Import Dependence and Energy Vulnerability

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a mixture of propane and butane gases compressed into liquid form. It is India's primary domestic cooking fuel, with over 330 million household connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and other schemes.

India imports over 60% of its LPG requirements; domestic production from refineries (primarily IOCL, BPCL, HPCL) meets only about 40% of demand.
In FY2024–25, India's total LPG consumption was approximately 31.3 million metric tonnes (MMT), of which domestic production was about 12.8 MMT.
Approximately 90% of India's LPG imports transit the Strait of Hormuz, making the strait a direct energy security pressure point.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC/IOCL) is the largest importer of LPG in India; it is a Maharatna central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Kandla (Deendayal Port, Gujarat) and New Mangalore Port are the primary LPG import terminals on India's west coast.

Connection to this news: The two IOC-chartered vessels successfully transiting Hormuz represented a critical supply chain event — their cargo feeds directly into India's domestic LPG distribution network at a time when the strait had been under effective closure for months.

The Strait of Hormuz and India's Energy Security

India is the world's third-largest consumer of crude oil. Its energy import dependence creates structural vulnerability to disruptions at maritime chokepoints.

Over 60% of India's crude oil imports originate from Persian Gulf countries (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE) — all of whose tankers must transit the Strait of Hormuz.
India's overall crude import dependence stood at approximately 87–88% of total consumption as of 2024–25.
India's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas monitors import trends and energy security.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint, through which an estimated 15 mb/d of crude oil flowed in 2025.
Strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) maintained by India at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, and Padur provide approximately 9.5 days of import cover — insufficient for a prolonged Hormuz disruption.

Connection to this news: The successful crossing of IOC LPG tankers was diplomatically significant — India actively sought safe passage for its vessels through bilateral channels with Iran while maintaining its broader neutral diplomatic posture.

Maritime Incidents, UNCLOS, and State Responsibility

When a vessel is attacked in another state's territorial waters or EEZ, the framework of state responsibility and UNCLOS provisions on maritime safety apply.

The HAJI ALI sank in Omani waters — placing the incident within Oman's territorial jurisdiction and coast guard responsibility.
Under UNCLOS Article 98, all states must require their ships to render assistance to persons in distress at sea. Oman's coast guard fulfilled this obligation.
"Mechanised Sailing Vessel" (MSV) or dhow refers to traditional wooden ocean-going vessels common in the Arabian Sea trade — distinct from modern commercial tankers.
The MEA's characterisation of the attack as "unacceptable" without attribution is a standard diplomatic formulation preserving options for future engagement without triggering formal escalation.

Connection to this news: India's dual response — welcoming the LPG tanker passage while condemning the dhow attack — reflects the calibrated approach of balancing energy security needs with diplomatic restraint during an active conflict situation.

Key Facts & Data

Two IOC-chartered LPG vessels confirmed safe passage through Hormuz: May 13–14, 2026.
Expected arrival: Kandla Port ~May 16; New Mangalore Port ~May 18.
Indian vessel HAJI ALI: 14 crew rescued by Omani Coast Guard; brought to Dibba Port, Oman.
India imports over 60% of LPG, approximately 90% of which transits the Strait of Hormuz.
Total Indian LPG consumption FY2024–25: ~31.3 MMT; domestic production: ~12.8 MMT.
India's overall crude oil import dependence: approximately 87–88% of total consumption.
India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves locations: Visakhapatnam (AP), Mangaluru (Karnataka), Padur (Karnataka) — combined cover approximately 9.5 days of import cover.
IOC (Indian Oil Corporation) is a Maharatna CPSE under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.