Indian LPG Tanker Navigates Unusual Route to Escape Strait of Hormuz Blockade
Pine Gas rerouted through narrow channel north of Larak Island with naval escort amid Gulf tensions
By Ebenezer Adu-Gyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku | Reporting for Ghanaian News, Canada MarchMarch 31, 2026
In late February 2026, the Indian-flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker Pine Gas became stranded near the Strait of Hormuz after loading cargo at the United Arab Emirates’ Ruwais port, amid escalating conflict involving Iran and strikes by the United States and Israel.
The vessel, carrying 45,000 metric tons of LPG and staffed by a 27-member Indian crew, had initially expected a routine voyage home. However, tensions in the region led to restrictions on the usual shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint for global energy trade.
For weeks, the Pine Gas waited in the Gulf of Oman, with crew members reportedly observing missile and drone activity in the area. Iran had been selectively allowing certain vessels to transit, largely limiting passage to ships from nations it deemed friendly, including India.
On March 23, the vessel received permission to proceed via an unconventional and narrow channel north of Iran’s Larak Island—an alternative to the standard shipping route that had been heavily restricted amid security concerns. This advice reportedly came from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Before setting off on the alternate path, the Pine Gas crew gave unanimous consent to the plan. The Indian Navy provided guidance and an escort through the Gulf of Oman into the Arabian Sea, helping the tanker avoid potential hazards and safely continue its journey.
Originally bound for Mangalore, the LPG was redirected to be discharged at Visakhapatnam and Haldia in India to help address potential domestic shortages of cooking gas.
While the Pine Gas successfully made the transit, other Indian-flagged vessels remain affected by the disruption in the Persian Gulf. Reports indicate that dozens of ships and hundreds of Indian crew members are still waiting to exit the region as tensions persist.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, is critical to global energy supplies, with a significant share of the world’s oil and gas trade normally passing through it. Disruptions there have widespread implications for shipping and energy markets.
