India Allows Select Iran-Linked Ships To Dock Amid Gas Supply Pressure

India has granted special waivers to allow select ships carrying Iranian cargoes to dock at its ports, aiming to speed up energy supplies during a period of tight domestic availability, according to Reuters, citing officials familiar with the matter.

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The approvals include permission for an older liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker and another vessel under U.S. sanctions, marking a deviation from standard maritime and compliance norms.

Waivers Granted On Case-By-Case Basis

According to Reuters, India allowed the LPG tanker Aurora, which is around 30 years old, to dock at the southern port of Mangalore. In a separate instance, a crude oil tanker named Jaya, which is under U.S. sanctions, was also permitted to unload cargo at an Indian port.

Officials said that such permissions are being granted selectively and on a case-by-case basis. Only vessels that meet specified safety standards are being considered for these waivers.

India typically mandates that oil and gas tankers older than 20 years must have seaworthiness certification issued by a member of the International Association of Classification Societies or an authority recognised by India’s maritime administration. Ships that are subject to U.S. sanctions are generally not allowed to dock at Indian ports under normal regulations.

Supply Constraints Drive Decision

Being the second largest consumer of LPG in the world, India has recently faced problems in its supply, which has compelled authorities to focus on household consumption of LPG first. Supply restrictions have been imposed for industrial consumption to guarantee sufficient cooking gas to households.

The reason for allowing the ships is to sustain the supply of LPG during this time due to cargo delivery delays.

Iran Cargo Deliveries And Sanctions

Iran has continued oil shipments using what is often described as a “shadow fleet,” consisting of older tankers that may not meet standard documentation requirements, allowing it to bypass Western sanctions.

The waivers granted by India come amid these broader global dynamics affecting energy trade flows.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas have not issued official responses to queries regarding these approvals, Reuters reported.

The selective easing of regulations reflects efforts to manage supply issues while still keeping safety checks for incoming ships.

Crude oil prices have stayed elevated due to supply concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy flows, amplifying the impact of the ongoing geopolitical tensions.