The Indian-flagged LNG carrier Disha safely transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, June 17, 2024, while transporting liquefied natural gas to India [1].

This transit marks a significant shift in regional maritime activity. The Disha is the first Indian-flagged LNG vessel to exit the conflict-hit region in more than three months, a move facilitated by a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran that has reduced local tensions [2].

Managed by a consortium led by the Shipping Corporation of India, the vessel is carrying a cargo of 62,370 metric tonnes of LNG [1]. The ship is currently en route to Dahej port in India, where it is scheduled to arrive on June 18, 2024 [1].

The movement comes amid a cautious return to the waterway. So far, 10 Indian-flagged vessels and five foreign-flagged vessels have crossed the strait [3].

Maritime security remains a critical concern for New Delhi due to the high volume of its citizens working in the area. There are currently 18,000 Indian seafarers in the Gulf region [3]. Of those, 325 Indian seafarers are situated west of the Strait of Hormuz [3].

Shipping companies continue to monitor the situation closely. While the U.S.-Iran agreement has eased immediate pressures, some shippers remain cautious about transiting the strait as they evaluate the long-term stability of the peace deal [4].

“The Disha is the first Indian-flagged LNG vessel to exit the conflict-hit region in more than three months”

The successful transit of the Disha serves as a litmus test for the effectiveness of the US-Iran peace deal in restoring commercial shipping lanes. Because the Strait of Hormuz is a global energy chokepoint, the return of Indian-flagged LNG carriers suggests a gradual restoration of confidence in the region's security, though the continued caution of other shippers indicates that full stability has not yet been reached.