Crude tankers from Russia, Liberia on way to Indian ports MUMBAI: Despite ongoing tensions disrupting shipping routes in the Persian Gulf, two crude oil tankers have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz and are en route to Indian ports, providing temporary relief to the country’s energy supply. The Liberian-flagged tanker MT Smyrni is scheduled to arrive at Mumbai port on Saturday, carrying approximately 1.4 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil. Another vessel, the Indian oil tanker Jag Prakash, is also crossing the strait, transporting around 50,000 metric tonnes of crude. While Jag Prakash is believed to be heading toward Africa, there is no confirmation yet whether it will be redirected to India at an additional cost. Industry analysts noted the significance of these movements, as at least 37 Indian ships remain affected by the conflict in the region. The situation has improved slightly with the resumption of Russian oil imports to India, following a U.S. waiver allowing such shipments. This has prompted several tankers, including those from so-called "shadow" or "ghost" fleets—unregulated vessels often used to transport sanctioned oil—to alter their routes and head toward Indian ports. Tracking data indicates that at least four tankers have diverted toward India. These include a non-sanctioned Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) operating as part of the shadow fleet. Two of these vessels were originally bound for China after loading crude from Russia’s Far East but changed course mid-voyage. Another tanker, the Suezmax Indri, initially heading to Singapore, abruptly shifted its route on March 4 and discharged Russian crude from the Baltic region at Sikka port in Gujarat on March 9.#mumbai #strait_of_hormuz #jag_prakash #jawaharlal_nehru_port_authority #sunil_vaswani
