Amidst the ongoing tension in the Middle East, relief news has emerged for India’s domestic LPG needs. The LPG cargo ship SIMI, which is flying the Marshall Islands flag, successfully reached Kandla port on Sunday morning. The ship traveled through the Strait of Hormuz on 13 May 2026.
Due to the ongoing war in West Asia, this sea route had remained completely unsafe and obstructed for the last 75 days. The ship, purchased by Indian Oil Corporation from Ras Laffan Terminal, is loaded with about 20,000 tonnes of liquefied propane and butane (LPG). All 21 foreign crew members on board are said to be safe.
The safe evacuation of the ship required sophisticated strategic measures amid the US blockade in the Gulf of Oman and tight surveillance by Iran’s navy.
While passing through the war zone on Wednesday, the ship temporarily switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) to avoid radar surveillance. This strategy allowed the ship to safely proceed past the eastern side of Larak Island, avoiding the radar-monitored conflict zone.
According to Indian government officials, there was excellent coordination between the four ministries of the government to make the entire operation successful and save the ship from any possible collision.
Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said, “The safe movement of this ship was ensured due to round-the-clock coordination between DG Shipping, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.”
SIMI is the 13th ship to transit the treacherous sea route to India since the beginning of March. After this, NV Sunshine, the second Vietnam-flagged LPG tanker, is heading towards New Mangalore port carrying 46,427 tonnes of fuel.
This consignment of LPG can prove to be a lifeline for India’s domestic market. There has been a significant decline in India’s crude oil and commercial gas reserves due to disruption in the West Asian sea route for the last 75 days.
India’s national energy reserves have declined by about 15 percent. According to commodity analysis company Coupler, before the war started, India had reserves of 107 million barrels of crude oil, which have now come down to 91 million barrels.
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