An LPG Tanker’s Secret Detour Through the Strait of Hormuz

A ship named Pine Gas, owned by a Mumbai company, was poised to depart the UAE’s Ruwais port in late February.
Its crew of 27 Indians had watched missiles and drones fly overhead daily as regional tensions escalated.

• Expected timeline: Reach home port within a week.
• Reality: Delayed almost three weeks for clearance.

Key Events

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps directed the unusual route; every crew member signed off on it.

Naval Support

• Indian Navy: Guided Pine Gas across the Gulf of Oman into the Arabian Sea.
• Escort: Four Indian warships provided protection for ~20 hours.
• No fee paid to Iran; Iranian forces never boarded the vessel.

The Indian Navy has been patrolling these waters for years to maintain safe shipping lanes.

Cargo and Impact

• Load: 45,000 metric tons of LPG.
• Distribution: Split between eastern ports instead of the originally planned western one.

While six Indian ships have already traversed Hormuz, 18 other Indian‑flagged vessels remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.