Two gas carriers owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — have successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a key but currently tense maritime route in West Asia.
The development comes amid escalating hostilities involving Iran, with the strait described as disrupted and accompanied by warnings of attacks on vessels using the passage. The situation has also affected global fuel prices and disrupted cooking gas supply.
Against this backdrop, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, seeking steps to ensure the safety of Indian ships.
Officials said each of the two vessels was carrying about 40,000 metric tonnes of gas. They added that 22 Indian ships are still waiting in the Strait of Hormuz region, and central government officials are working to ensure their safe movement.
