More than 40 India-bound vessels, nearly half of which carry energy products, are still trapped in the Persian Gulf, unable to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, officials told Indian outlet The Economic Times on Friday.
The ships are laden with crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and LNG, as well as fertilizer and other products.
A total of 13 ships flagged to India are still stuck west of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Indian government.
The Indian authorities have drafted a list of 41 vessels for priority evacuation from the Gulf, including of 18 tankers carrying energy products, 16 ships laden with fertilizer, and seven carrying other cargo.
The government is concerned that the still closed Strait of Hormuz is eroding India’s energy and food security as cargoes with crude, gas, and fertilizer cannot move out of the Persian Gulf.
A potential resolution to the conflict would be a huge relief for India, officials have said.
However, hostilities returned in the Gulf early on Friday, after Iran and the U.S. exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to break the very fragile ceasefire that has held for a month.
Despite the latest flare-up, the U.S. insists the ceasefire is still in place, while Iran is said to be reviewing a U.S. proposal of a framework agreement for further talks that could eventually lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
India is probably looking with concern at the renewed clash in the Strait as it relies on energy and fertilizer supplies trapped west of Hormuz.
Last weekend, a tanker carrying LPG passed through the Strait of Hormuz en route to India in the first crossing of an India-linked LPG cargo since the U.S. launched a blockade outside the Strait to prevent Iranian oil exports.
The MT Sarv Shakti, chartered by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the country’s biggest state refiner, cleared the Strait of Hormuz on May 2 and is expected to arrive in Visakhapatnam on May 13.
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
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