Russian Carrier Aqua Titan, US LPG Cargo Pyxis Pioneer Arrive In India Amid Hormuz Cr
Russian Carrier Aqua Titan, US LPG Cargo Pyxis Pioneer Arrive In India Amid Hormuz Crisis
M.U.H
22/03/202613
Hormuz Crisis: Russian cargo ship Aqua Titan arrived at the New Mangalore Port on Sunday after changing its route mid-journey from China to India, highlighting shifting global energy supplies amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The cargo ship, carrying Russian crude oil, was originally headed for China but made a U-turn earlier this week in the South China Sea. It is among at least seven such vessels that have been redirected to India in recent days, according to ship-tracking data, reported by Bloomberg.
Additionally, another ship, Pyxis Pioneer, carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States, also reached Mangaluru, boosting India’s energy supplies.
The diversion of oil and gas shipments comes as global energy routes have been disrupted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. However, India’s diplomatic engagement with Iran has allowed Indian-flagged vessels to pass through the crucial waterway, easing supply concerns.
In recent days, other LPG carriers, including Nanda Devi and Shivalik, have also reached Indian ports after navigating the risky Hormuz route. LPG carrier Shivalik reached Mundra on Monday, while another LPG tanker Nanda Devi reached Kandla port in Gujarat early on Tuesday morning.
The two ships carried about 92,712 tonnes of LPG – equivalent to a day’s requirement of cooking gas in the country. Two LPG carriers started their journey on March 13 and crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on March 14.
The Russian oil tanker, carrying Urals crude it picked up from a Baltic Sea port in late January, was heading towards Rizhao port when it diverted its route to India in South Asian waters. The Aframax ship had initially listed Rizhao in China as its destination, but reversed course in Southeast Asian waters around mid-March—just days after the US cleared India to temporarily step up purchases of Russian oil.
Rajesh Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, earlier this week said, “The name of this tanker is Aqua Titan. It has been chartered by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MPCL). It is expected to arrive at New Mangalore port on March 21. This tanker is carrying crude oil…"
According to a Bloomberg report, ship-tracking data showed multiple such diversions in recent weeks, with at least two vessels rerouted toward Indian ports despite being expected to continue toward China.
Such developments highlight how Indian refiners are increasingly outbidding rivals to secure discounted Russian crude. According to Bloomberg, traders say cargoes originally earmarked for Chinese buyers are being snapped up by India, which has been aggressively expanding purchases amid volatile global energy markets.
Indian refiners moved quickly to secure around 30 million barrels of Russian crude in the week after the concession, as they scrambled to offset supply disruptions from the Middle East amid the Iran conflict.
Russia, facing Western sanctions, has leaned heavily on Asian demand to sustain exports. While China remains a key buyer, its refiners appear less urgent in the spot market, allowing Indian companies to step in and redirect shipments.
At least seven Russian oil tankers have altered course mid-journey, diverting from China to India, according to Vortexa Ltd., as all major Indian refiners return to the market for the country’s crude.
In a separate development, the Suezmax tanker Zouzou N. is now headed for Sikka in India, with an expected arrival around March 25, according to vessel-tracking data. The ship is transporting Kazakh CPC Blend crude, as per Kpler. It had earlier departed from Novorossiysk on Russia’s Black Sea coast and moved towards waters near Rizhao, before reversing course in early March and rerouting to India.
