Russian oil tanker MT Aqua Tita arrives at Mangaluru port amid tensions in Middle East

A Russian oil tanker chartered by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) arrived off the coast of India on Sunday, underscoring ongoing concerns about global energy supplies amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The vessel, MT Aqua Titan, is currently anchored about 10 nautical miles off the coast of Mangaluru in the Arabian Sea and was expected to be carried out a day ago.The arrival comes as international energy markets remain volatile, with supply chains disrupted by growing conflict in the region, now in its fourth week. Major sea lanes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, continue to face uncertainty, affecting the steady flow of crude oil and liquefied gas.

Earlier today, a cargo ship transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Texas, US, docked at the New Mangalore port, further boosting India’s energy imports. To facilitate smoother operations, the shipping ministry recently announced waiving charges related to cargo transportation of crude oil and LPG at the port between March 14 and 31. Officials also confirmed that there is currently no congestion at any Indian port.Providing an operational update, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary at the Ministry of Shipping, said that all 22 Indian ships and 611 crew members operating in the Persian Gulf region remain safe. He added that authorities were closely monitoring developments and that no incidents at sea had been reported in the past 24 hours.At the same time, India’s broader energy logistics continues to adapt to the changing landscape. The Indian-flagged oil tanker Jag Laadki recently arrived at Mundra port in Gujarat, while LPG carriers MT Shivalik and MT Nanda Devi safely sailed through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, carrying more than 92,000 tonnes of LPG.At home, officials sought to reassure the public over fuel supply issues. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas reported a sharp decline in panic-stricken LPG bookings, recording 5.5 million on Thursday, indicating that consumer confidence is stabilizing. Despite growing concerns and a reported 25% increase in industrial diesel prices, authorities insist there are adequate stocks across the country.Elsewhere, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chaired a high-level review meeting on Sunday focused on ensuring uninterrupted supply, stable logistics and efficient distribution of critical energy resources across the country.