India-Bound Crude Tanker Reaches Mumbai After Crossing Tense Strait of Hormuz

Mumbai, Mar 12: Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, a crude oil tanker carrying supplies for India has safely arrived at Mumbai Port after navigating the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz. The vessel is the first India-bound tanker to complete the journey since maritime traffic in the region faced disruption due to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong, commanded by an Indian captain, had loaded crude oil from Ras Tanura port in Saudi Arabia on March 1 before beginning its voyage two days later. The Suezmax-class vessel eventually reached Mumbai after travelling through one of the world’s most closely monitored shipping corridors.

According to maritime tracking platforms, the ship’s last recorded location within the Strait of Hormuz was on March 8 before it continued towards India. The route has witnessed heightened security concerns in recent weeks as the conflict in the region intensified.

Reports indicate that the tanker briefly stopped transmitting its location while passing through the most sensitive section of the strait by switching off its Automatic Identification System (AIS), a common safety measure adopted by vessels in high-risk maritime zones. The ship later reappeared on tracking systems on March 9 as it continued its journey toward the Indian coast.

Earlier, two Indian-flagged vessels were also permitted to transit through the Strait of Hormuz between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, although an official statement on the development is still awaited. Many other ships have reportedly remained cautious due to fears of getting caught in the crossfire of the ongoing regional tensions.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most crucial maritime routes in the global oil trade, with nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passing through the narrow waterway each day. Any disruption to this passage can significantly affect international energy supplies and shipping operations.

Port authorities in Mumbai confirmed that the tanker arrived at the port around 1 pm on Wednesday and was subsequently docked later in the evening for unloading operations. Officials said the discharge of crude cargo is expected to proceed as per scheduled port procedures.