28 Indian ships stranded in the Gulf of Hormuz: Will there be an outcry in the country? These two big tankers loaded with 94,000 tons of LPG are arriving by April 1.

New Delhi: Amidst the ongoing tension in the Middle East, big news is coming out regarding India’s energy supply. A total of 28 ships coming to India were stuck in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, which were loaded with crude oil, LPG and LNG. Today in Tuesday Trivia we are telling you in detail about the current condition of these ships and the rescue plan of the government.

What is the status of foreign and Indian flagged ships?

Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, told a media briefing that 10 foreign flag ships coming towards India are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf. Of these, three are LPG, four are oil tankers and three are LNG-laden ships. Apart from this, there are 18 Indian flagged ships stranded near the Strait of Hormuz. These 18 ships include three LPG tankers, one LNG carrier and four crude oil tankers. The first priority of the government is to get these Indian flagged ships out of the war zone safely.

Relief news: 8 ships rescued safely

The good news amid the crisis is that so far 8 Indian ships have been rescued safely. These include two big ships named ‘BW TYR’ and ‘BW ELM’, which are loaded with 94,000 tonnes of LPG. BW TYR is expected to reach Indian shores by March 31 and BW ELM by April 1. Earlier on March 26, ‘Pine Gas’ and ‘Jag Vasant’ had also reached India with about 92,612 tonnes of LPG. Due to the promptness of the government, big tankers like MT Shivalik, MT Nanda Devi and Jag Ladki were landed safely at Kandla and Mundra ports in the month of March.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important for India?

The Strait of Hormuz is the sea route in the world through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas is supplied. Its importance is even more for India because 50 percent of our total energy supply comes through this route. India imports most of its LPG requirement from here. Secretary Sinha has warned that the danger is not limited only to the Strait of Hormuz, but the area outside this route has also now become a ‘high risk area’.

Strict monitoring of Indian Navy

Of the total 28 ships stranded in Hormuz, 24 were on the west side and 4 were on the east side. In the last few days, 6 ships have been successfully brought to India under tight security and surveillance of the Indian Navy. The government is keeping an eye on every movement of these ships so that there is no impact on the energy security of the country and the supply of cooking gas used in homes continues uninterrupted.