NEWS

• A day before India’s 79th Independence Day, the Shipping Ministry inducted Sahyadri, a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), into the fleet of Shipping Corporation of India Ltd. (SCI).
• This marks the first such acquisition by an Indian PSU in eight years, strengthening India’s energy supply chain.

HIGHLIGHTS

Significance of the Move

• Strategic Energy Security: Sahyadri will transport LPG from the Persian Gulf to India, securing a vital energy lifeline.
• Atmanirbhar Bharat Push: Officials note the acquisition reduces dependence on foreign shipping tonnage for strategic cargo, boosting India’s self-reliance and competitiveness in global shipping.
• Symbolic Naming: Named after the Sahyadri mountain range along India’s western coast, reflecting national identity.

Features of Sahyadri

• Built in South Korea, inducted at Hamad Port, Qatar in presence of Indian crew.
• Dimensions: 225m long, 36m wide.
• Capacity: Can carry 82,000 cubic metres of LPG.
• Compliance: Meets strict international safety and environmental standards.
• Fleet Expansion: Raises SCI’s deadweight tonnage to 5.2 million and its owned fleet to 57 vessels (including crude/product tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, gas carriers, offshore vessels).

Future Outlook

• The acquisition is part of a July 2025 agreement for two VLGCs of the same capacity.
• The second carrier, Shivalik, will join later in the financial year, further enhancing India’s LPG transport capacity.