Indian Seafarers Safe in West Asia, LPG Shipments Resume as Strait of Hormuz Reopens

India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirms uninterrupted maritime operations and successful LPG transits amid the West Asia conflict

As the West Asia conflict shows tentative signs of de-escalation following a US-Iran ceasefire, India’s shipping sector has received a crucial assurance: all Indian seafarers operating in the Persian Gulf region remain safe, and maritime trade is continuing without disruption.

Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mukesh Mangal, confirmed at a media briefing in New Delhi that all Indian seafarers in West Asia remain safe and maritime operations are proceeding without disruption. “All seafarers in the Persian Gulf remain safe,” he stated, adding that Indian vessels and crew in the region are being closely monitored.

Fleet Status: 16 Vessels, Hundreds of Seafarers Under Active Monitoring

There are currently 16 Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Western Persian Gulf region, with a total of 433 Indian seafarers onboard. The fleet includes a diverse mix of cargo types — among them one LNG vessel, two LPG vessels, six crude oil tankers, three container vessels, one dredger, one chemical tanker, and two bulk cargo vessels.

The government has also made significant progress in crew repatriation since the conflict began on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. The Directorate General of Shipping has 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.

LPG Carriers Green Sangvi and Green Asha Complete Strait of Hormuz Transit

In a significant development for India’s energy supply chain, two Indian-flagged LPG tankers have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most strategically critical shipping lanes — and are now en route to Indian ports.

Green Sangvi is carrying approximately 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG with 25 Indian seafarers onboard, while Green Asha is carrying about 15,000 metric tonnes with 26 seafarers onboard. Green Sadhvi was scheduled to arrive by April 7, and Green Asha by April 9, though timelines may change.

With these arrivals, eight Indian-flagged LPG tankers have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz since it was effectively disrupted following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation.

Why This Matters for India’s Energy Security

The smooth movement of LPG carriers through the Strait of Hormuz is not merely a logistical milestone — it carries major implications for India’s domestic energy supply. India relies on imports from Gulf nations for about 60 per cent of its cooking gas needs, with approximately 90 per cent of these imports coming from West Asia. Any prolonged disruption to the Strait would have had severe consequences for Indian households and industries dependent on LPG.

When asked about reports of Iran charging tolls for Strait passage, Mangal was unequivocal: “We have no information of such payments.”

Inter-Ministerial Coordination and Port Operations

Mangal pointed out the seamless coordination among the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian diplomatic missions, and various maritime stakeholders to manage the crisis. On the domestic front, Indian ports have remained fully operational throughout the conflict period. Port operations in India remain unaffected, functioning smoothly without congestion. In just the last 24 hours, the Directorate General of Shipping’s communication centre handled 70 calls and 245 emails, ensuring effective responses to concerns from seafarers and shipping companies.

With the US-Iran ceasefire now in place and the Strait of Hormuz gradually reopening to normal traffic, India’s shipping sector appears to have weathered the immediate crisis effectively — though officials continue to urge caution given the fragile geopolitical situation in the region.