An India-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, Jag Vikram, has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first Indian vessel to do so after the announcement of a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to ship-tracking data.
The tanker navigated the crucial waterway between Friday night and Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon, it was located in the Gulf of Oman, east of the Strait, and continued its journey eastward.
Jag Vikram is the ninth Indian vessel to exit the Persian Gulf since early March, while nearly 15 India-flagged ships are still in the region awaiting safe passage.
The vessel, owned by Mumbai-based Great Eastern Shipping Company, is a mid-sized gas carrier with a deadweight capacity of over 26,000 tonnes. Trade sources suggest it may be carrying approximately 20,000 tonnes of LPG.
When the West Asia conflict began, at least 28 India-flagged vessels were present in the Strait of Hormuz region—24 on the western side and four on the eastern side. Before Jag Vikram’s transit, eight vessels from the western side and two from the eastern side had managed to move to safety. However, several foreign-flagged ships carrying cargo bound for India still remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.
MarineTraffic data indicates that hundreds of vessels continue to remain in the region, including 426 tankers, 34 LPG carriers, and 19 LNG vessels, many of which were effectively stranded due to the disruption.
India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer and fourth-largest gas user, relies heavily on imports—about 88% of its crude oil, nearly half of its natural gas, and around 60% of its LPG needs come from overseas sources.
A significant portion of these imports—over half of crude oil, around 40% of gas, and up to 85–90% of LPG—comes from Gulf countries and passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor that had been shut during the conflict.
Earlier this week, the United States and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz for shipping traffic.