By Weilun Soon and Rakesh Sharma May 2, 2026 (Bloomberg) – An India-linked tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a significant achievement amidst the country’s ongo...
By Weilun Soon and Rakesh Sharma
May 2, 2026 (Bloomberg) – An India-linked tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a significant achievement amidst the country’s ongoing energy crisis.
The Sarv Shakti, flagged in the Marshall Islands and loaded with about 45,000 tons of LPG, generally used for cooking, reportedly entered the Gulf of Oman after passing Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands on Saturday, as shown by ship-tracking data.
This large gas carrier has traveled between the Persian Gulf and Indian ports before and is currently signaling that it is headed to India with an Indian crew onboard, a safety precaution often taken by ships since the conflict in Iran began.
The Indian Oil Corporation, a state-owned company, was identified as the buyer of this cargo, according to a shipping document provided to Bloomberg. However, IOC did not respond to a request for comment.
The Sarv Shakti’s passage is notable because it is the first observed transit by an India-linked tanker since a recent US blockade on ships connected to Iran began, which has nearly halted maritime traffic through Hormuz. This tanker is one of the largest to successfully make the crossing since a chaotic weekend last month, when the strait was briefly open before closing again.
As the third-largest oil importer and the second-largest consumer of LPG in the world, India is urgently trying to address supply shortages caused by disruptions from Middle Eastern producers. Ongoing shortages of cooking fuel have resulted in panic buying, long lines, and limited availability of food options.
New Delhi has prioritized the safe passage of LPG carriers since the US and Israel began military actions against Iran at the end of February, even directing its ports to give these vessels priority for docking and unloading while also increasing domestic LPG production.
However, progress was hindered during an April weekend when Iran first claimed the strait was open but then reportedly targeted ships crossing it, forcing many to turn back. An India-linked tanker, the Aframax-sized crude vessel Desh Garima, managed to pass through by turning off its transponder signals.
Since then, traffic through Hormuz has almost completely stopped.
During the conflict, India has successfully navigated eight LPG vessels through Hormuz due to ongoing negotiations with Tehran and is exploring alternative routes.
To adapt, India has boosted its domestic LPG production by 60%, reaching 54,000 tons, to meet growing demands. Meanwhile, its daily consumption has decreased by 10,000 tons, totaling 80,000 tons, according to Oil Minister Hardeep Puri.
The Sarv Shakti entered the Persian Gulf early in February and received its cargo through a ship-to-ship transfer near Dubai, though Bloomberg News could not confirm where the cargo originated.
A full crossing of Hormuz typically takes around 10 to 14 hours. Electronic disruptions in the area can sometimes misrepresent a ship’s position. Additionally, some vessels may turn off their identification systems, making it difficult to trace their movements during transit.
Based in Dubai, Foresight Group Services Ltd. is listed as the manager of the vessel, with its owner, Zhe Yin Shan Zhou No. 4 Tianjin, sharing the same address, according to the Equasis database. Foresight Group has not responded to inquiries made through its website.