Indian Navy Warships to keep watch on India-bound vessel in Strait of Hormuz

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy deployed multiple warships to escort two Indian-flagged LPG tankers through the Strait of Hormuz safely between Friday night and Saturday, according to the sources.

This comes as diplomatic efforts continued to secure passage for 22 more Indian vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf.

The two very large gas carriers — Shivalik and Nanda Devi, both operated by the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India and chartered by Indian Oil Corporation — are cumulatively carrying 92,700 tonnes of LPG.

Shivalik is headed to Mundra port and expected to arrive Monday, while Nanda Devi is likely to reach Kandla port on Tuesday.

According to the report, at least two warships had been on operational standby since Iran began its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the Navy’s Operation Sankalp, some warships are already deployed in the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman for anti-piracy operations, multiple additional warships have since sailed to the region.