India Secures LPG Lifeline: Nanda Devi Docks Safely at Vadinar

India’s energy supply chain cleared a significant hurdle on Tuesday as the LPG carrier Nanda Devi arrived safely at Vadinar port in Gujarat, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas after navigating the increasingly volatile Strait of Hormuz. The vessel’s safe arrival marks the second successful transit through the strategically critical waterway in recent days, offering a measure of reassurance to energy planners monitoring the situation closely.

The Nanda Devi docked at Vadinar in the Devbhumi Dwarka district, where authorities have initiated preparations for a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of the cargo. The LPG consignment will be offloaded onto a daughter vessel, BW Birch, which will subsequently transport portions of the cargo to Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Haldia in West Bengal — ensuring distribution to industrial and domestic consumers across the country.

Deendayal Port Authority Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh confirmed that the transfer operation would proceed at a rate of approximately 1,000 tonnes per hour and is expected to be completed within two days.

The arrival follows active diplomatic engagement by New Delhi with Tehran to secure safe maritime passage for Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Officials familiar with the discussions said India is working to ensure safe transit for a total of around 2.7 lakh tonnes of LPG — cargo critical to the country’s energy security — as rising tensions in West Asia have made the route increasingly hazardous. With the Hormuz Strait serving as a vital conduit for energy supplies flowing from the Gulf to global markets, any prolonged disruption could have serious downstream consequences for India’s fuel supply and domestic LPG availability.