Two of the latest India-bound LPG tankers to cross the Hormuz Strait safely were received by an Indian Navy ship, which is now escorting them to Indian waters.
This comes after the two vessels—the BW Elm (IMO: 9320752) and the BW Tyr (IMO: 9346122)—carrying a combined 94,000 metric tonnes of LPG, were given permission to depart safely from the embattled strait.
The Indian-flagged tankers reportedly kept their AIS transponders switched on during the dangerous transit to notify Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of their Indian origin.
Visuals from the inside of one of the tankers shows an Indian Navy vessel sailing alongside its starboard (right) side, guiding it through to Indian waters.
The BW Tyr is scheduled to reach India first—it will dock at the Mumbai Port on March 31, while the BW Elm will reach the New Mangalore Port on April 1.
The BW Tyr and BW Elm are part of a set of tankers that have been trickling into India over time as a result of New Delhi's diplomatic talks with Tehran, aiding the Centre's efforts to keep the LPG crisis at bay.
This includes the Shivalik and the Nanda Devi, two of the first vessels to exit the Hormuz Strait unharmed, leading up to the Jag Vasant and the Pine Gas, which docked in India earlier this week.
According to the latest update from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), 18 Indian-flagged vessels with 485 Indian seafarers remain in the Persian Gulf region, waiting for a safe exit.
It added that the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) has still safely repatriated over 942 Indian seafarers so far, including 4 in the last 24 hours.
"DG Shipping, in coordination with ship owners, RPSL agencies, and Indian Missions, is actively monitoring the situation," the MoPSW has said, adding that the DG Shipping's 24x7 Control Room has handled 4523 calls and 8,985 emails since activation.
92 of these calls and 120 of these emails were received over the past 24 hours.
The MoPSW also confirmed that port operations across India remain normal, with no congestion reported, and the maritime boards of various states working properly.
For more maritime and shipping news and views, visit: Maritime, Ahoy!