India-bound LPG tanker Sarv Shakti crosses Strait of Hormuz

The India‑bound LPG tanker MT Sarv Shakti has safely transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking a rare and strategically significant energy movement amid heightened West Asia tensions and a US naval‑related blockade in the region.

Basic details of the voyage

• The Marshall Islands‑flagged LPG carrier Sarv Shakti carried about 46,313 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), destined for India.

• It crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, 2 May 2026, and is expected to arrive at Visakhapatnam on 13 May 2026.

Crew and origin of cargo

• The vessel has a crew of 20, including 18 Indian nationals.

• The LPG cargo, used largely as cooking fuel, was reportedly loaded via a ship‑to‑ship transfer off Dubai in early February before the tanker’s final push toward India.

Strategic and energy‑security significance

• Sarv Shakti is among the first India‑linked tankers to successfully cross the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks, after a period of sharply reduced traffic due to regional tensions and Iranian‑imposed restrictions.

• The transit underscores India’s efforts to secure LPG lifelines during an intense energy‑supply crunch, achieved through a mix of diplomatic‑level coordination with Tehran and careful routing via Iranian‑designated passages near Larak and Qeshm islands.