Indian Oil Tanker Reaches Mundra Safely Amid West Asia Tensions

An Indian-flagged oil tanker, Jag Laadki, carrying approximately 80,800 metric tonnes of crude oil, safely arrived at Mundra port in Gujarat on Wednesday, completing a high-risk voyage from the United Arab Emirates amid escalating regional tensions.

The vessel had departed from Fujairah on Sunday morning, shortly after an attack targeted the port’s oil terminal, temporarily disrupting operations. According to government officials, the tanker was in the process of loading crude at Fujairah’s Single Point Mooring when the strike occurred on March 14, 2026.

In an official statement, the Indian government confirmed that the vessel sailed safely despite the incident. “On March 14, 2026, while the Indian-flag vessel Jag Laadki was loading crude oil at the Fujairah Single Point Mooring, the Fujairah oil terminal was attacked. The vessel departed at 1030 hrs IST on Sunday carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil and proceeded towards India,” the statement said.

Despite the heightened risk environment, the tanker completed its journey without sustaining any damage. It is the third Indian-flagged vessel to successfully navigate the conflict-affected region in recent days.

The development comes against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions across West Asia, particularly around the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that Iran has assured safe passage for Indian vessels transiting the region, while cautioning that port infrastructure in the UAE could remain vulnerable to further strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has also signalled that access to the vital maritime corridor may be restricted for U.S. and Israeli vessels amid the ongoing conflict.

As a precautionary measure, the tanker was escorted through the Gulf of Oman by an Indian naval warship. Notably, the vessel avoided passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting the prevailing security concerns in the region.

Earlier this week, two Indian-flagged LPG carriers—Shivalik and Nanda Devi—successfully transported a combined 92,712 metric tonnes of LPG through the Strait of Hormuz. One vessel reached Mundra on Monday, while the other arrived a day later, further underscoring the resilience of India’s maritime logistics operations.

India continues to maintain a robust naval presence in the region under Operation Sankalp, aimed at safeguarding commercial shipping routes and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of critical energy supplies.