E-Paper
Sign In
India deploys navy ships near Gulf of Oman to escort LPG carriers via Hormuz strait
According to Indian ministry of shipping, 22 Indian-flagged ships are stranded in the Arabian Gulf, waiting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, carrying 320,000 tonnes of LPG
- PUBLISHED: Thu 19 Mar 2026, 1:34 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
Over half a dozen warships, including logistics vessels, have been deployed by the Indian Navy to the Gulf of Oman to ensure the safe passage of its ships carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) through the Strait of Hormuz, according to media reports.
Recommended For You
The warships and logistics vessels have been sent under the country’s Operation Sankalp, which was launched in 2019 to protect Indian-flagged vessels operating in the Middle East during times of turbulence.
In 2024, a dozen naval ships had been sent to protect Indian vessels at a time when Houthi militants in Yemen were engaged in piracy. While the warships are unlikely to enter the Strait of Hormuz, they would escort vessels carrying essential oil commodities heading towards Indian ports. Ninety per cent of India’s LPG imports are from the Gulf.
According to India’s Ministry of Shipping, 22 flagged vessels are stuck in the strait. Two India-flagged LPG carriers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi reached ports in Gujarat, carrying over 90,000 metric tons of LPG. Another vessel, Jag Laadki, with 80,000 MT of crude oil, also reached Mundra port in Gujarat on Wednesday.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
The Indian Navy maintains a presence in half a dozen key maritime regions to provide security to ships heading to and from Indian ports and to counter threats. They monitor movements of vessels near the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Seychelles, the Maldives, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Bay of Bengal.
A spokesperson of the Indian ministry of shipping told the media that 22 Indian-flagged ships were stranded in the Arabian Gulf, waiting to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. They had 1.67 MT of crude oil, 320,000 tonnes of LPG and about 200,000 tonnes of LNG.
Considering the acute shortage of LPG, used mainly as cooking gas, the government has launched a nationwide crackdown on those hoarding the cylinders and selling it at hefty premiums.
Over 12,000 raids have been conducted over the past two days, according to a government spokesman. About 15,000 cylinders have been seized during the raids.
