Cuttack: Two liquefied petroleum gas tankers, including BW Elm carrying a seafarer from CDA Sector-6 in Odisha’s Cuttack, have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz under Indian Navy escort after being stranded at Ras Laffan anchorage for 34 days.
Family of Ashok Kumar Dixit, chief officer on the vessel, shared the information with media on Sunday. His wife had earlier appealed to both the state and central governments for intervention to ensure his safe return. “The wait seemed like an endless ordeal. We are extremely happy and thank Indian Navy and Indian government for facilitating the safe passage,” said a visibly emotional Smruti Rekha Sahoo.
Speaking to a local channel, Dixit said the ship is now returning with full protection from the Indian Navy, including a helicopter hovering overhead for security. The vessel is expected to reach New Mangalore port by April 1 or 2. “A missile struck one sh
ip about 4-5 hours after we received clearance. We also spotted 4-5 damaged vessels with smoke rising from them. I am deeply thankful to the authorities for ensuring our safe return,” he said.
“Six more loaded ships are still stranded there. Two ships are being cleared at a time. With tensions escalating in the region, we remain hopeful that the remaining vessels will also reach Indian coasts safely soon,” he added.
Dixit departed for Qatar in November last year to transport an LPG shipment bound for India. He was scheduled to return home by March 10, but the ship, loaded with 48,000 metric tonnes of LPG, got stuck, about 12 nautical miles from the coast, when US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, which subsequently led to an effective disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Dixit had earlier shared a video message where he mentioned witnessing live missile strikes and that 20-22 LPG carriers including his own was stranded 12 nautical miles from the port, with no clarity about the future.
India is gradually moving its stranded LPG cargoes out from the strait, with four LPG tankers – Shivalik, Nanda Devi, Pine Gas, and Jag Vasant – moved so far following diplomatic coordination with Iranian authorities for the transit of non-hostile vessels.