India Deploys 2 More LPG Carriers Amid West Asia Crisis; Top Security Brass Negotiating Safe Passage With Tehran | Exclusive

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 18:28 IST

Top government sources have confirmed to CNN-News18 that the vessels Jag Vasant and Pine Gas have been officially repositioned to secure the nation’s fuel supply chain

In a high-stakes maritime manoeuvre to insulate India from the escalating volatility in West Asia, the Government of India has intensified its energy logistics push by inducting two additional high-capacity vessels into its LPG fleet. Top government sources have confirmed to CNN-News18 that the vessels Jag Vasant and Pine Gas have been officially repositioned to secure the nation’s fuel supply chain against regional disruptions.

This strategic expansion comes at a critical juncture, as India’s top security brass remains in constant, direct communication with their Iranian counterparts. The goal of this rare diplomatic-military coordination is to ensure the “guaranteed safe passage" of these tankers through the increasingly turbulent waters of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

The deployment of Jag Vasant and Pine Gas reflects a proactive “crisis-mode" approach by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, supported by the Ministry of External Affairs. Both vessels are specialised LPG tankers, engineered for the high-pressure and temperature-controlled transportation of liquefied petroleum gas.

By integrating these ships into the active operational framework, India is effectively building a “maritime buffer". Sources indicate that these vessels are being utilised to ramp up bulk LPG movement, ensuring that domestic reserves remain at peak capacity even if the conflict between regional powers leads to a temporary blockade of primary shipping lanes.

The most significant aspect of this logistics push is the level of inter-governmental coordination involved. CNN-News18 has learnt that India’s National Security Council (NSC) is working in tandem with the Iranian security establishment to monitor the movement of Indian-flagged and chartered vessels in real-time.

With the recent drone strikes and maritime escalations involving Israel and Iran, the “safety corridor" for Indian energy assets has become a top priority for New Delhi. This coordinated maritime movement ensures that Jag Vasant and Pine Gas are not caught in any cross-border kinetic actions, allowing them to maintain the supply chain’s resilience despite evolving logistical pressures.

The inclusion of these two vessels significantly enhances the Indian fleet’s capacity to handle bulk LPG movements efficiently. As the demand for clean cooking fuel remains at a seasonal high during the holy month of Ramadan and the lead-up to the festive season, any interruption in the gas supply could trigger a domestic inflationary crisis.

“These ships were already part of established maritime networks, but their repositioning is a deliberate move to align with current national security priorities," a senior government source told CNN-News18.

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