First Vessel Through Strait of Hormuz Since Iran-US War Began Reaches Mumbai Port
A Liberia-flagged tanker hauling Saudi Arabian crude, captained by an Indian, cleared the Strait of Hormuz two days ago and has berthed at the port of Mumbai, becoming the first India-destined vessel to safely transit the waterway, where maritime traffic has all but halted since the US and Israel attacked Iran. A map showing the Strait of Hormuz and Iran is seen in this illustration.
The Shenlong Suezmax loaded crude from the Saudi port Ras Tanura on March 1 and embarked two days later. Its last signaled location was inside the strait on March 8, according to maritime data firms Llyod’s List Intelligence and TankerTrackers.
Vessel’s Journey Through Strait of Hormuz
The Mumbai-headed vessel then went “dark”, suggesting it had turned off its transponders and AIS, or automatic identification system, to avoid detection as it navigated the perilous stretch before re-appearing on tracking databases on March 9, a person familiar with the matter said.
It reached the Mumbai port at 1 pm on Wednesday and was berthed at 6.06 pm port officials said.
Cargo Details and Crew Information
The ship Shenlong is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil. She is berthed at Jawahar Dweep and has started discharging the crude cargo,” Praveen Singh, deputy conservator of Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA) said. The crude will go to refineries in Mahul, in eastern Mumbai.
The shipping ministry did not immediately respond to a request for details of the tanker, which is owned by Shenlong Shipping Ltd and managed by the Athens-based Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd.
Crew and Ship Information
There are 29 Indian, Pakistani and Filipino crew on board, while the ship’s captain is Sukshant Singh Sandhu. The ship will take nearly 36 hours to discharge the cargo,” said Jitendra Jadhav who works for Atlantic Global Shipping, which is handling Shenlong in Mumbai.
Impact on India‘s Energy Supplies
The tanker’s safe passage is likely to ease some of the mounting concerns in Asia’s third-largest economy over energy shortages, as over half of India’s crude and gas supplies pass through the strait.
Original Article: India receives first crude vessel through Strait of Hormuz since Iran-US war began, tanker reaches Mumbai port — Hindustantimes