22 India-bound ships on Hormuz evacuation list, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Indian government has identified 22 India-bound vessels in the Persian Gulf for evacuation through the Strait of Hormuz.
• 20 vessels are critical for India's energy security, carrying 2.15 lakh MT of LNG, 3.21 lakh MT of LPG, and 16.76 lakh MT of crude oil.
• 10 of the 20 energy-critical vessels are Indian-flagged.
• Three vessels (Shivalik, Nanda Devi, and Jag Laadki) have already been evacuated by the Indian Navy.
• Approximately 23,000 Indian seafarers are currently in the Persian Gulf region.

Detailed Insights:

• The evacuation is being coordinated with multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Directorate of Naval Operations (DNO), and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG).
• The evacuated vessels Shivalik and Nanda Devi are undergoing cargo operations at Mundra and Vadinar, respectively.
• Jag Laadki, carrying 81,000 MT of Murban crude oil from the UAE, narrowly escaped damage during an attack on the Fujairah terminal.
• While no Indian ship has been attacked, three Indian seafarers have died, four injured, and one is missing on foreign-flagged vessels in the conflict zone.
• Seven West Asia-bound vessels are waiting at major Indian ports, and five are at other ports, awaiting clearance.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Strait of Hormuz: A narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, strategically important for global oil trade.
• LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas): Natural gas that has been cooled to liquid form for ease and safety of non-pressurized storage or transport.
• LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): Flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as fuel in heating appliances, cooking equipment, and vehicles.

Strait of Hormuz