After Shivalik, LPG carrier Nanda Devi heads to India after clearance from Strait of Hormuz: Report

After Shivalik, India’s second Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, Nanda Devi, has successfully exited the
Strait of Hormuz and entered the international waters amid growing tensions in West Asia. Government sources close to the matter confirmed the news to CNN-News18. 

This marked another step forward in India’s efforts to safely move its energy cargo through the tense Gulf region. The government sources said that the vessel is now being escorted by the
Indian Navy, which will guide it during the next leg of its journey to India.

As per the report, the ship is expected to reach an Indian port within the next two days. The port of Mumbai or Kandla is likely to be the destination of the vessel. Top government sources told News18 that Nanda Devi is carrying more than 46,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Why it matters

The cargo was considered critical for India’s energy supply chain, especially at a time when shipping movements in the Gulf have faced disruptions due to the ongoing war in Iran.

Earlier today, CNN-News18 reported that the first Indian LPG vessel, Shivalik, had already begun its movement through the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations helped secure safe passage. The ship has since reached open sea and is sailing safely under Indian Navy guidance.

Sources said that both ships are being closely guided by Indian naval assets to ensure safe transit through the strategically sensitive waters. With both Shivalik and Nanda Devi now out of the strait, authorities are optimistic that the same operational protocol can be followed for other vessels, allowing them to move without major disruptions.

The news of the vessels came a day after Foreign Minister
Dr S. Jaishankar held a phone call with his counterpart, Abbar Arghachi, discussing the ongoing crisis in West Asia. The development is also significant for India, which depends heavily on LPG imports from the Gulf region.

Officials said the safe movement of these vessels demonstrates that a workable mechanism has been established to ensure the secure transit of Indian energy shipments through the vital maritime corridor.