India received a fresh shipment on the Gujarat coast for the second consecutive day, as an Indian-flagged tanker MT Nanda Devi arrived near Vadinar carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), underscoring steady inflows despite supply concerns linked to the war in the middle-east.
At Vadinar, the cargo from MT Nanda Devi will be transferred via a ship-to-ship (STS) operation to another vessel, MT BW Birch, a move aimed at improving turnaround time and reducing port congestion. The operation is being managed by Deendayal Port Authority (DPA).
The vessel’s arrival follows Monday’s berthing of MT Shivalik at Mundra Port after transiting the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, bringing 46,000 MT of LPG cargo for Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL).
Port officials said STS transfers enable handling of large cargo volumes offshore, reducing congestion at ports and lowering turnaround time.
The operation at Vadinar underscores the role of Gujarat’s ports in handling bulk energy imports and maintaining supply chain continuity.
DPA Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh visited the mother vessel and reviewed safety and operational preparedness for the transfer, the statement said.
The latest arrivals come close on the heels of another LPG vessel, BW Pampero, which had called at Kandla port last week and discharged about 23,400 MT of cargo, although the origin of that shipment was not disclosed.
Officials indicated that LPG cargo is being accorded priority handling at ports and in logistics planning, given its critical role in household consumption and essential services.