First post-conflict tanker in India to sail from Mumbai to UAE via tense Strait of Hormuz

The first oil tanker to reach India through the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the West Asia conflict is set to return to the region after unloading its cargo in Mumbai, even as another vessel that crossed the now-risky waterway approaches the Indian coast.

The Liberia-flagged tanker Shenlong arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday after departing the Ras Tanura oil terminal in Saudi Arabia on March 3. Its crew navigated the strait despite disruptions to electronic navigation systems, relying largely on seamanship and manual navigation.

Following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Tehran has targeted merchant vessels — except those owned by or heading to China — disrupting energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes through the strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global markets.

Signals from the ship’s transponders and AIS (automatic identification system) were not detected at times during the voyage, according to people familiar with the matter. Shipping ministry officials and crew members said the vessel experienced GPS spoofing and jamming while passing through the strait.

The ship’s captain, Sukshant Singh Sandhu from Mohali, said the tanker lost GPS signals several times but managed to avoid any direct attacks.

Second officer Abhijit Alok said navigating without GPS made the journey particularly challenging. “We were lucky to reach safely and glad to deliver vital crude supplies to the country at a time when energy shipments are under strain,” he said, adding that the crew relied on traditional navigation techniques when signals failed.

Alok said the crew saw fighter aircraft flying overhead while near Saudi Arabia but did not witness any active military engagement. The ship carries a crew of 29 sailors from India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

According to the vessel’s agent Jitendra Jadhav, the tanker will depart for Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on Friday night after unloading 135,335 metric tonnes of crude at Jawahar Dweep (Butcher Island) off Mumbai. The oil will then be transported to refineries in Mahul in eastern Mumbai.

Fujairah, located on the UAE’s eastern coast outside the Strait of Hormuz, has also been affected by the conflict. Debris from a drone interception by UAE defence forces sparked a fire there on March 9, and the oil storage terminal was hit by falling debris last week.

For now, the Shenlong’s crew say they are relieved to be safely in Mumbai after navigating the conflict zone.

Third officer Osman Arshad, a Pakistani national from Karachi, said the captain kept the crew informed and prepared for any emergency. Arshad added that his contract ends next month, giving him a chance to take a four-month break after the stressful voyage.

Another crew member said he regularly sent messages to his family in India whenever possible during the journey and felt relieved to be back in the country.

Meanwhile, Jadhav said another crude carrier, the Smyrni, is expected to reach Mumbai on March 14 after also transiting the Strait of Hormuz.