Indian Naval Ships Safeguard LPG Tankers in Gulf of Oman

The Indian Navy escorted two Indian LPG tankers through the Gulf of Oman after they crossed the strategically important Strait of Hormuz on March 14. The naval protection came amid rising security concerns in the region. The escort ensured the safe movement of the vessels as they continued their journey towards Indian ports carrying crucial energy supplies.

The Indian government confirmed that the ships Shivalik and Nanda Devi successfully crossed the strait and are heading towards India. Together, the vessels carry around 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG. Authorities also stated that additional Indian ships remain on standby in the Gulf region to respond to any emergency situation.

Although officials did not directly confirm the Navy’s operational involvement, videos circulating on social media showed strong evidence of naval support. Footage captured an Indian Navy destroyer from the Visakhapatnam/Kolkata class escorting the vessels. The Indian Navy deployed an MH-60R helicopter near INS Shivalik to conduct aerial surveillance during the escort mission.

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Indian Navy ensures safe passage of LPG tankers in Gulf of Oman.

Open-source vessel tracking data from March 14 also showed that the Indian Navy had deployed at least three warships in the Gulf of Oman.These ships appeared strategically positioned to escort commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. However, analysts noted that GPS inaccuracies in the area could slightly affect the exact publicly visible positions.

India relies heavily on the strait for its energy imports, along with several other Asian countries. The Shipping Corporation of India owns the two LPG tankers.. Their safe arrival will help ease domestic concerns about possible fuel shortages amid growing regional tensions.

The naval escort came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on March 12. During the conversation, Modi emphasized that the safety of Indian citizens and the uninterrupted flow of goods and energy remain India’s top priorities. At that time, about two dozen Indian vessels and hundreds of Indian sailors were already operating in the Persian Gulf region.

India is expected to continue ensuring safe passage for its vessels under Operation Sankalp. The mission has been active since 2019 to protect Indian commercial shipping across the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Gulf of Aden. India is likely to maintain this independent approach while contributing to global efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz secure for international trade.

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