India's LPG tanker Pine Gas, carrying 47,000 tonnes of cooking fuel from the Persian Gulf, is expected to dock at Vizag port early Thursday after a route change for faster cargo delivery. The adjustment comes amid shipping disruptions caused by the West Asian war. A Vizag Port Authority spokesperson confirmed preparations are in place.
New Delhi: The India-flagged 227-metre-long refrigerated LPG tanker Pine Gas, hauling 47,000 tonnes of cooking fuel from the Persian Gulf, has changed its destination for quicker turnaround. Originally bound for New Mangalore, it was later scheduled for Odisha's Dhamra port on April 1, but now heads to Vizag via an east-coast route around India's southern tip.
A Vizag Port Authority spokesperson said, “It is expected early tomorrow. We are fully prepared for its arrival.” The deep-water facility has LPG handling units compliant with PESO standards. LPG and natural gas tankers receive berthing priority under the shipping ministry's directive amid supply disruptions.
Key Indian ports, including Vizag, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, VO Chidambaranar Port Authority, Mundra, Deendayal Port Authority, New Mangalore, Cochin, and Chennai, have created extra space to manage traffic amid global shipping chaos from the West Asian war.
The Pine Gas departed Ghantoot in the UAE alongside another tanker, Jag Vasant, transiting the Strait of Hormuz safely after clearance from Iran, which has imposed a near-blockade. The Jag Vasant reached Vadinar's west-coast terminal on March 28. A second official noted such changes occur for operational reasons, with constant coordination between operators and the government, factoring in sea conditions.
