Amid heightened tensions in West Asia, two India-bound liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, officials informed on Thursday, May 14.
Further, they added that an India-flagged vessel sank after it was hit near the strategic shipping corridor.
Notably, LPG tanker Symi transited through the Strait on May 13, while NV Sunshine safely crossed the waterway on Thursday. With this, the total number of Indian vessels to have crossed the shipping channel has now reached 13.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained effectively shut since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, followed by Tehran’s retaliation more than two months back.
Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, informed that an Indian Dhow or a mechanised sailing vessel (MSV), named Haji Ali, came under attack during its voyage from Somalia to Sharjah, UAE, in the early hours of Wednesday in Omani waters. This ultimately led to a fire onboard the wooden vessel and its subsequent sinking.
“All 14 crew members onboard (Haji Ali) were safely rescued by the Omani Coast Guard and have reached Dibba Port in Oman. The crew is reported to be safe, and necessary formalities with the local authorities have been completed,” PTI quoted the official as saying.
He added that the crew members will be brought back to India soon.
“The Government of India remains in close coordination with the authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, Indian Mission officials and relevant maritime agencies,” Mangal said, besides highlighting that the vessel that sank was 57 meters long and 14 meters wide.
An Indian dhow is a traditional – usually wooden – sailing vessel having one or more masts and characteristic lateen (triangular) sails.
The recent passage of two India-bound LPG vessels comes amid a major deadlock in negotiations to end the ongoing war in West Asia as well as the arrival of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New Delhi to attend the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting.