Ahmedabad: India’s second liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier, Nanda Devi, docked safely at Vadinar port in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district on Tuesday, transporting 46,500 metric tonnes of LPG after transiting the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing West Asia conflict.
Giving this information to reporters, Deendayal Port Authority Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh said the cargo will be transferred to the daughter vessel BW Birch for onward distribution to Ennore in Tamil Nadu and Haldia in West Bengal.
“A consignment of 46,500 metric tonnes of LPG has been brought in; this cargo will be transferred to a vessel named BW Birch, which will subsequently proceed to discharge portions of the consignment at the ports of Ennore (Tamil Nadu) and Haldia (West Bengal) along the eastern coast,” he stated.
“The transfer process takes place at a rate of 1,000 tonnes per hour; consequently, the entire operation is expected to take two days to complete,” he added.
The port is executing the operation with priority under Ministry of Ports directives to maximise efficiency.
“This constitutes a standard operational procedure that we have consistently carried out here at Vadinar. However, the current directive issued by the ministry mandates that incoming LPG vessels be accorded top priority; we must ensure that their transfer and discharge processes are completed as expeditiously as possible,” Singh said.
He noted rigorous monitoring by multiple agencies. “We visited the vessel and met with its crew members. The ‘daughter vessel’ is currently en route; upon its arrival, it will berth alongside the ‘mother vessel’ Nanda Devi, at which point the ship-to-ship transfer operation will commence.”
The ministry has directed priority handling for future LPG vessels, upholding all safety protocols. “Our objective is to eliminate any procedural bottlenecks and ensure that the cargo is discharged as quickly as possible,” Singh emphasised.
The first ship, ‘Shivalik’, reached Gujarat’s Mundra Port on Monday.
India imports 88% of its crude oil, 50% of natural gas, and 60% of LPG. Prior to the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 and Iran’s response, Middle Eastern suppliers like Saudi Arabia and the UAE provided over half of crude, 30% of gas, and 85-90% of LPG imports.
The Strait of Hormuz blockade has disrupted supplies, leading India to increase Russian crude purchases while rationing gas and LPG for industries and commercial users. Meanwhile, 22 Indian vessels with 611 seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf, as efforts continue for their safe exit.
