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Indian LNG Tanker Successfully Crosses Strait of Hormuz Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

Tuesday, June 16, 2026
5 min read
Indian LNG Tanker Successfully Crosses Strait of Hormuz Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

The Indian LNG tanker Disha finally made it through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. It was the first Indian merchant vessel to safely cross that route after nearly two months of waiting.

This transit followed the recent understanding between the US and Iran, though the underlying situation remains fraught with uncertainty for everyone involved.

Disha , operated by India’s state-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), was carrying Qatari LNG for India when it successfully navigated the waterway.

What this crossing means is a glimmer of hope. It suggests safe passage for the other thirty-four Indian and foreign ships that were stuck in the Persian Gulf, waiting their turn to reach Indian ports.

Officials are speaking about the cargo involved. Director in the Shipping Ministry, Opesh Kumar Sharma, confirmed that Disha carried 62,370 tonnes of LNG. The vessel is now headed toward Dahej, likely by June 18th.

But the picture isn't entirely rosy right now. There’s a lot more to consider than just safe shipping lanes opening up.

Bandana Preyashi, joint secretary in the fertiliser department, pointed out that among the sixteen important ships currently stuck in the strait, some are carrying fertilizer. Eight of them are loaded with urea; four are diammonium phosphate (DAP); three have sulphur; and one is ammonia.

If these fertiliser shipments can get through Hormuz, it naturally augments the supply of essential soil nutrients for the region, according to policymakers.

Yet, that doesn't immediately fix energy shortages. The real sticking point seems to be the damage done elsewhere. Facilities like Ras Laffan in Qatar suffered extensive damage during the US-Iran conflict. That kind of disruption casts a long shadow over recovery time.

Shipping routes might stabilize eventually. But improvements in energy supplies won’t come instantly because major gas facilities took a heavy hit. Uncertainty remains about when full operations can actually resume at those critical sites. India relies heavily on that long-term supply aGreement with QatarEnergy, and any disruption there feels particularly significant right now.

The damage wasn't just limited to the shipping lanes. The UAE’s Habshan Gas Plant also sustained damage, affecting its ability to operate smoothly. They are working on it, though. About 60% of that plant’s capacity has already been restored. Expecting eight-tenths recovery by the end of 2026, with complete structural restoration targeted for 2027.

Furthermore, at QatarEnergy’s Ras Laffan complex, two LNG processing trains were damaged. This reduced the facility's capacity by roughly seventeen percent. These operational hiccups add another layer of complexity to the whole energy picture.

India’s dependence on this region is starkly exposed when you look at the history. Before everything happened, India imported over eighty-eight percent of its crude oil needs. Nearly half that amount came from West Asia. And critically, more than sixty percent of India's imported LNG has to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. About ninety percent of those shipments transit right through that strategic waterway.

This dependence really underscores the potential fallout if things keep being disrupted. It’s a vulnerability you can’t ignore when talking about energy security across the board.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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