India receives first oil shipment through Strait of Hormuz amid Iran-US war

A Liberia-flagged oil tanker carrying Saudi crude has safely reached Mumbai, becoming the first India-bound vessel to transit the Strait of Hormuz since maritime traffic sharply declined after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. The tanker, Shenlong Suezmax, was loaded at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port on March 1 and departed two days later. Maritime tracking data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence and TankerTrackers showed that the vessel was last detected inside the strait on March 8 before continuing its journey to India.

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Saudi crude tanker reaches Mumbai after navigating tense Strait of Hormuz route

Tensions in the region have severely disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway. Iran has attacked several merchant vessels and warned that it could block oil shipments through the strait, except for those heading to China. Because nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil supply moves through the Strait of Hormuz, the threats have made the route extremely risky for international shipping.

During its passage through the high-risk zone, the tanker reportedly turned off its AIS (automatic identification system) transponder and temporarily disappeared from public tracking databases to avoid detection. The vessel reappeared on March 9 and later arrived at Mumbai Port at 1 pm on Wednesday, where authorities berthed it at Jawahar Dweep at 6:06 pm. According to Mumbai Port Authority officials, the ship is carrying 135,335 metric tonnes of crude oil that will be supplied to refineries in Mahul, eastern Mumbai.

Officials said the tanker carries a multinational crew of 29 members, including Indian, Pakistani and Filipino sailors, and is captained by Sukshant Singh Sandhu. The vessel, owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd, is expected to take around 36 hours to unload its cargo. The tanker’s successful journey could ease concerns about potential energy shortages in India, although several Indian-flagged vessels still remain in or near the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict.

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