Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 2: A Marshall Islands-flagged LPG carrier, MT Sarv Shakti, carrying 46,313 metric tonnes of LPG and 18 Indian crew members, has safely crossed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to official sources.

The vessel, which has a total crew of 20 including 18 Indians, departed from a port in the United Arab Emirates and is expected to reach Visakhapatnam on May 13.

Reports indicate that the ship has become the first India-linked vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing blockade enforced by the US Navy, a key point of contention in the continuing tensions between the United States and Iran.

The very large gas carrier (VLGC), carrying cargo owned by Indian Oil Corporation, regularly operates between Indian ports and the Persian Gulf and had broadcast details confirming the presence of Indian crew onboard.

The development comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region, with global focus on the safety of maritime trade routes critical for energy supplies.