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India news: Second LPG tanker reaches India amid shortage
Summary
LPG-laden vessel Nanda Devi has arrived in western India escorted by the Indian Navy, amid a shortage due to the conflict in Iran. Also, India's UN envoy had sharp words for Pakistan. DW has more.
Here's a roundup of the major headlines out of India on Tuesday, March 17:
LPG tanker Nanda Devi successfully arrived at Vadinar Port in India's western state of Gujarat, shipping officials have confired.
"The vessel, which departed from Qatar and navigated the Strait of Hormuz, is carrying approximately 46,000 metric tons of LPG," India's shipping ministry said in a social media post, along with a short video of the vessel docked at port.
This is the second of two LPG tankers to safely arrive in India after passing through the Strait.
India's foreign ministry has attributed this to successful diplomatic talks with Tehran and said it was working to bring back "many more" Indian vessels from the Gulf region.
India's shipping and ports minister Sabarnanda Sonowal lauded the crews and captains of both ships for their "unwavering duty" in bringing in "vital LPG cargo."
A third Indian tanker carrying crude oil from the UAE is also scheduled to reach Indian shores on Tuesday.
Air India and its budget subsidiary Air India Express said it will operate 44 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the Middle East on Tuesday, March 17.
"In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 24 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, subject to availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time," the air carrier said in a statement.
The airline's flight operations to and from Dubai remain suspended.
It asked customers to ensure their registered mobile numbers were updated to receive important information. Other commercial airlines, including India's largest carrier IndiGo, are also running non-scheduled flights based on the availability of slots at airports in the UAE.
Millions of Indian nationals work and live in the Gulf nations. Many of them are trying to return home to their families amid the ongoing conflict in Iran.
"Air India group is exploring every opportunity to operate other additional ad-hoc flights to and from destinations in West Asia," the airline said.
The UAE temporarily closed its airspace overnight amid more Iranian attacks, suspending operations at Dubai's international airport, before reopening it later on Tuesday.
Nanda Devi, a merchant vessel carrying liquified petroleum gas (LPG) which earlier crossed the Strait of Hormuz, is set to arrive at Indian shores today, according to reports.
The ship is scheduled to reach the Deendayal Port, commonly known as Kandla Port, in the western state of Gujarat, news outlets The Times of India and The Hindu reported.
According to TOI, the ship was scheduled to reach early in the morning. There has been no official confirmation of its arrival yet.
LPG-carrying ships Shivalik and Nanda Devi crossed the strait Saturday, marking a breakthrough in diplomatic talks between Iran and India.
Both ships were escorted by the Indian Navy under 'Operation Sankalp,' launched to ensure the safety of Indian vessels in the Gulf. The world 'Sankalp' roughly translates to vow or determination.
After the US-Israel war with Iran broke out on February 28, transit through the key route dropped by up to 90% in the following days.
On March 2, Iran said the strait was closed and that it would attack any ships that attempted to pass through. It has since also said the strait was open to all except the US and its allies.
India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, quickly enforced emergency directives to manage the impending fuel crisis while also engaging with Tehran to negotiate safe passage for Indian-flagged ships.
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A third Indian-flagged tanker, named Jag Laadki, is also scheduled to reach a different port in Gujarat today. It faced a close call last week when UAE's Fujairah port was attacked.
Indian officials report the crude tanker sailed out of the port on Saturday, and that everyone onboard was unharmed.
India's foreign ministry had earlier reported that 22 Indian vessels, apart from Shivalik and Nanda Devi, were in the conflict-affected region.
The government has since assured citizens that all the vessels are safe and that talks to bring them back home were ongoing. In an interview with the Financial Times, Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar said there was no "blanket agreement" with Iran on passing of Indian ships.
Good morning! Welcome to DW's India news blog.
This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi studio, and I will be bringing you a roundup of the biggest headlines from India.
Here is what to expect on Tuesday:
Stick with us as we break down the day's news for you.
Here's a roundup of the major headlines out of India on Tuesday, March 17:
LPG tanker Nanda Devi successfully arrived at Vadinar Port in India's western state of Gujarat, shipping officials have confired.
"The vessel, which departed from Qatar and navigated the Strait of Hormuz, is carrying approximately 46,000 metric tons of LPG," India's shipping ministry said in a social media post, along with a short video of the vessel docked at port.
This is the second of two LPG tankers to safely arrive in India after passing through the Strait.
India's foreign ministry has attributed this to successful diplomatic talks with Tehran and said it was working to bring back "many more" Indian vessels from the Gulf region.
India's shipping and ports minister Sabarnanda Sonowal lauded the crews and captains of both ships for their "unwavering duty" in bringing in "vital LPG cargo."
A third Indian tanker carrying crude oil from the UAE is also scheduled to reach Indian shores on Tuesday.
Air India and its budget subsidiary Air India Express said it will operate 44 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the Middle East on Tuesday, March 17.
"In addition to the scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 24 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, subject to availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time," the air carrier said in a statement.
The airline's flight operations to and from Dubai remain suspended.
It asked customers to ensure their registered mobile numbers were updated to receive important information. Other commercial airlines, including India's largest carrier IndiGo, are also running non-scheduled flights based on the availability of slots at airports in the UAE.
Millions of Indian nationals work and live in the Gulf nations. Many of them are trying to return home to their families amid the ongoing conflict in Iran.
"Air India group is exploring every opportunity to operate other additional ad-hoc flights to and from destinations in West Asia," the airline said.
The UAE temporarily closed its airspace overnight amid more Iranian attacks, suspending operations at Dubai's international airport, before reopening it later on Tuesday.
Nanda Devi, a merchant vessel carrying liquified petroleum gas (LPG) which earlier crossed the Strait of Hormuz, is set to arrive at Indian shores today, according to reports.
The ship is scheduled to reach the Deendayal Port, commonly known as Kandla Port, in the western state of Gujarat, news outlets The Times of India and The Hindu reported.
According to TOI, the ship was scheduled to reach early in the morning. There has been no official confirmation of its arrival yet.
LPG-carrying ships Shivalik and Nanda Devi crossed the strait Saturday, marking a breakthrough in diplomatic talks between Iran and India.
Both ships were escorted by the Indian Navy under 'Operation Sankalp,' launched to ensure the safety of Indian vessels in the Gulf. The world 'Sankalp' roughly translates to vow or determination.
After the US-Israel war with Iran broke out on February 28, transit through the key route dropped by up to 90% in the following days.
On March 2, Iran said the strait was closed and that it would attack any ships that attempted to pass through. It has since also said the strait was open to all except the US and its allies.
India, the world's second-largest LPG importer, quickly enforced emergency directives to manage the impending fuel crisis while also engaging with Tehran to negotiate safe passage for Indian-flagged ships.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
A third Indian-flagged tanker, named Jag Laadki, is also scheduled to reach a different port in Gujarat today. It faced a close call last week when UAE's Fujairah port was attacked.
Indian officials report the crude tanker sailed out of the port on Saturday, and that everyone onboard was unharmed.
India's foreign ministry had earlier reported that 22 Indian vessels, apart from Shivalik and Nanda Devi, were in the conflict-affected region.
The government has since assured citizens that all the vessels are safe and that talks to bring them back home were ongoing. In an interview with the Financial Times, Indian Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar said there was no "blanket agreement" with Iran on passing of Indian ships.
Good morning! Welcome to DW's India news blog.
This is Mahima Kapoor from the New Delhi studio, and I will be bringing you a roundup of the biggest headlines from India.
Here is what to expect on Tuesday:
Stick with us as we break down the day's news for you.
AI Description
The arrival of the LPG tanker Nanda Devi in India addresses a critical energy shortage exacerbated by geopolitical tensions. The Indian Navy's escort highlights the strategic importance of securing energy supplies.