India-bound crude oil tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz

A Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker, Nissos Keros, carrying approximately 2,70,000 MT crude oil for India, has safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel transited the strategic waterway during the intervening night of May 25–26, and is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on June 3, the government said on Friday.

During an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, an official from the Ministry of Shipping and Waterways said the tanker was operating under charter to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and had 25 foreign crew members onboard.

The official said ensuring the safe movement and exit of Indian vessels currently operating in the Strait of Hormuz remained the government’s priority. At present, 13 Indian-flagged vessels are still in the region, including one LPG tanker and five crude oil tankers.

He added that, while future shipping operations to the region were being planned, vessel movements would resume fully only after security conditions in the Strait of Hormuz improved and normal energy flows were restored.

Meanwhile, an official from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas urged citizens to avoid panic buying of petroleum products, assuring that the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted availability of fuel and LPG across the country.

“Citizens are advised not to indulge in panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG, as the government is making every effort to maintain smooth and adequate supplies,” the official said.