A tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia reached Mumbai amid rising tensions in West Asia. It became the first vessel to safely arrive in India after the war disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker sails under the Liberia flag. An Indian captain commands the vessel. Authorities cleared the ship to cross the strait two days before it reached India.

Shipping traffic in the region dropped sharply after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Tehran responded by targeting interests across West Asia, widening the conflict.

Tanker Sailed From Saudi Oil Terminal

The vessel Shenlong Suezmax loaded crude oil at Ras Tanura Port. The port is one of Saudi Arabia’s largest oil export terminals. The tanker left Ras Tanura on March 1 and headed for India. Maritime data firms Lloyd’s List Intelligence and TankerTrackers.com tracked the vessel. They recorded its last signal inside the Strait of Hormuz on March 8.

Iran has attacked merchant ships during the conflict. It has also warned that oil shipments may not pass through the waterway except those heading to China. This threat has made the global trade route extremely risky.

Tanker Temporarily Went “Dark”

Nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow channel is one of the world’s most critical energy routes. The tanker temporarily went “dark” during its journey. It switched off its transponders and Automatic Identification System (AIS). Ships often use this method to avoid detection in dangerous waters.

The vessel reappeared on global tracking systems on March 9. It reached Mumbai at around 1 pm on Wednesday. Port officials said it docked at 6:06 pm.

Tanker Begins Unloading Crude

The tanker started unloading crude oil soon after docking. “The ship Shenlong is carrying 1,35,335 metric tonnes of crude oil. She is berthed at Jawahar Dweep and has started discharging the crude cargo,” Praveen Singh told Hindustan Times.

The crude oil will go to refineries in Mahul in eastern Mumbai.

Details of Ship and Crew

The tanker belongs to Shenlong Shipping Ltd. Dynacom Tanker Management Ltd manages the vessel. There are 29 crew members on board. They come from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The ship’s captain is Sukshant Singh Sandhu.

“The ship will take nearly 36 hours to discharge the cargo,” Jitendra Jadhav told Hindustan Times.

Arrival May Ease Energy Concerns

The tanker’s safe arrival may ease some worries about energy supply in India. India depends heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for crude oil and gas imports. However, the risk remains high.

The Directorate General of Shipping says 28 Indian-flagged ships remain stranded in the strait since the war began.