India To Receive First Iranian Crude Oil Cargo In 7 Years, Carrier Expected To Arrive This Week

India is poised to receive its first shipment of crude oil from Iran in seven years after the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products to address supply shortages, according to a Reuters report citing ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler.

State-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the country’s largest refiner, has purchased the cargo currently aboard the Curacao-flagged very large crude carrier Jaya, which is headed to India’s east coast and is expected to arrive later this week, the data showed.

The report noted that the Jaya carrier had initially sailed to Southeast Asian waters for discharge in China before redirecting towards India.

LSEG tracking data also showed that another carrier, Jordan, is signalling India

as its discharge location.

The shipment signals a significant development in India’s energy sourcing pattern, as purchases of Iranian crude had halted following US sanctions imposed in 2019.

LPG VESSELS TRANSIT STRAIT OF HORMUZ AMID WEST ASIA CONFLICT

According to news agency ANI, two India-flagged vessels carrying more than 60,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach India this week.

Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mukesh Mangal on April 6 said the vessels Green Sangvi and Green Asha were carrying significant LPG cargo.

“Over the past two days, two Indian-flagged vessels, named Green Sangvi and Green Asha, which are carrying LPG cargo, have safely transited the Strait of Hormuz. The Green Sangvi is carrying approximately 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG cargo and has 25 Indian seafarers on board, while the Green Asha is carrying 15,000 metric tonnes of LPG cargo and has 26 seafarers,” Mangal said.

He added that the vessels are part of a larger fleet of Indian-flagged ships operating in the Western Persian Gulf region.

“Green Sadhvi is expected to arrive by April 7, and the Green Asha by April 9,” he said, noting that timelines may change.

GOVERNMENT CLOSELY MONITORS SHIPPING MOVEMENTS

The ANI report mentioned that a total of 16 Indian-flagged vessels with 433 Indian seafarers are currently present in the Western Persian Gulf region, including crude carriers, LPG vessels, container ships, bulk carriers, a chemical tanker and a dredger.

“The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is continuously monitoring shipping movements, port operations, and the safety of Indian citizens. The Ministry is ensuring the continuity of maritime trade.”

“All Indian citizens in this region remain safe. In the last 24 hours, no incidents involving Indian-flagged vessels have been reported,” Mangal said.

He also stated that authorities are ensuring normal port operations across the country.

“The DG Shipping has so far facilitated the safe repatriation of over 1,599 Indian seafarers, including 180 brought back in the last 24 hours from various locations across the Gulf region,” he added.

CONTINUED LPG SHIPMENTS SINCE START OF CONFLICT

Green Asha is among several India-flagged LPG carriers to have transited the Strait of Hormuz since late February, when the conflict in West Asia escalated.

Earlier, a shipment of approximately 47,000 metric tonnes of LPG had arrived at the Vadinar Terminal in Jamnagar, Gujarat, via the vessel MT Jag Vasant, where cargo transfer was carried out through a ship-to-ship operation at anchorage.

Officials were quoted as saying that Indian Navy warships were on standby to provide support to merchant vessels operating in the region, while coordination continues between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs and maritime stakeholders.

Authorities have maintained that port operations across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry remain normal, ensuring continuity in maritime trade despite tensions in key shipping routes.

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