A Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker carrying 135,335 metric tonnes of oil reached Mumbai via the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports. It is described as the first India-bound vessel to take the route after attacks on Iran began.
The report said Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz following strikes by Israeli and US forces, triggering a rise in global crude prices and raising concerns of fuel shortages in several countries.
Against this backdrop, the tanker sailed from Saudi Arabia with crude oil and proceeded through the strait to India. The cargo is expected to be refined at the Mahul area in eastern Mumbai.
The vessel was loaded at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura port on March 1 and departed on March 3. Citing security risks in the Strait of Hormuz, the ship reportedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) on March 9.
The ship, owned by Greece-based Dynacom Tankers, has an Indian captain, while 28 crew members from India and Pakistan are working onboard. The crude is expected to be discharged soon and processed for sale.
