Bharuch, Gujarat, June 19: The Malta-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier Disha arrived at Dahej Port in Gujarat on Friday morning and berthed at the Petronet LNG jetty, according to the Bharuch Port Authority.
The vessel carried 62,370 metric tonnes of LNG and successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz before reaching India. Its arrival comes amid ongoing developments in the West Asia region and concerns over maritime traffic through the strategic waterway.
Speaking at an inter-ministerial briefing on Thursday, Director in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Opesh Kumar Sharma, said the government is coordinating with various ministries and stakeholders to facilitate the movement of Indian vessels and energy cargoes from the Persian Gulf region.
Sharma said that no other Indian-flagged vessel had exited the Persian Gulf after Disha crossed the Strait of Hormuz on June 15 and continued its voyage to India.
He said the government is working closely with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, the Ministry of External Affairs, and other agencies to ensure preparedness and support for the safe movement of vessels and cargo.
Providing an update on maritime operations, Sharma said efforts are underway to facilitate the movement of energy shipments and Indian-flagged vessels from the region.
He also highlighted the support extended to seafarers through the control room established by the Directorate General of Shipping. According to Sharma, the facility has handled more than 13,187 calls and 29,376 emails since its establishment.
Over the past 72 hours, the control room received 450 calls and 1,077 emails from seafarers, their families, and maritime stakeholders.
Sharma further stated that the Ministry, through the Directorate General of Shipping, has facilitated the repatriation of more than 3,639 Indian seafarers so far, including 47 during the last 72 hours.