NEW DELHI: Sukhmeet Singh and Dhiraj Kumar Agrawal have travelled the oceans, but their real test as merchant navy commanders came in the volatile Strait of Hormuz, an otherwise calmer oil and gas trade route now under the shadow of drones, missiles and rigged with anti-ship mines. Their objective — safely navigate two massive Indian LPG gas tankers through a war-hit path to ensure people back home keep getting cooking gas.Patience and experience was on their side — while the Sukhmeet-captained ‘Shivalik’ reached the Mundra port on Monday, the Dhiraj-steered ‘Nanda Devi’ docked in Kandla port’s Vandinar facility on early Tuesday, completing a difficult trip after being stranded for over a week on the West of Hormuz due to massive military strikes.Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: US pounds Iranian missile sites near key Strait of Hormuz; Iran rains down cluster bombs on Tel AvivIran confirms death of national security chief Ali Larijani, president Pezeshkian offers condolences’Posed risk to shipping’: US says it hit Iran missile sites near Strait of Hormuz with 5,000-pound munitions Watch Nanda Devi Returns Home After Shivalik, Crew Thanks Indian Navy For Safe Transit Through Hormuz After the ships — Shivalik with 27 sailors and Nanda Devi with 30 — reached the Indian ports with over 92,000 tonnes of LPG, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday morning held a virtual interaction with “the brave crews”, saying, “seafarers are the unsung heroes of global trade.” “Far away from your homes and families, you ensured that essential cargo reaches its destination safely…crew demonstrated exceptional calmness, vigilance and professionalism under challenging conditions,” he said.Officials, who met the sailors onboard the vessels, said the only problem crews faced was the “long wait”. They will be ready to sail again as most have travelled through the strait earlier, the officials said.Shipping secretary Vijay Kumar said the sailors “continued duty amid uncertainty” in one of the “world’s most critical choke point” at a time when the attacks on vessels had reduced traffic.TOI has learnt that Sukhmeet hails from Punjab’s Adampur. His family members said they had advised him to leave duty but Sukhmeet had said he would “return home only after completing the task” as it was his responsibility to bring back the critical cargo to India.Officials said Dhiraj is from Kantabanji in Odisha’s Balangir. His family members said they heaved a sigh of relief after ‘Nanda Devi’ crossed the strait.In response to a question on the shipping ministry’s interaction with the sailors, special secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said that the intent was to thank them and praise their yeoman service. “They were all in their uniforms and looked healthy and cheerful,” he said.Sinha said there are about 3.2 lakh Indian seafarers and 90% of them employed on foreign-flagged vessels, signifying their calibre.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIs There Any Lesson Which India Needs To Learn From Iran War For Sindoor 2.0‘Will Maintain Exports Again’: Piyush Goyal Highlights India’s ‘Stable’ Trade Amid West Asia WarSupreme Court Strikes Down Three-Month Rule, Grants Equal Maternity Leave To Adoptive Mothers Too‘Culture Erased’ Claim Sparks Row Over Hindu Temple In Dallas Fort, Targets Indian Community OnlineIndia Urges UN Reform Amid Iran War, Seeks BRICS Unity As Conflict Divides Members’Bapu Wanted To…’: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches Scathing Attack On Congress Over VB-G RAM G BillNo Petrol Or Diesel Price Hike For Now Says Centre Amid West Asia Oil Market Volatility Crisis’Bundled Up And Thrown Into Jail’: Sonam Wangchuk In First Remarks After Release From NSA DetentionLok Sabha Revokes Suspension Of 8 Oppn MPs, Warns Against Placards, AI PicturesCentre Confirms All Indian Sailors, Ships Are Safe As LPG Vessels Shivalik, Nanda Devi Dock In India123PhotostoriesWhy this hour of the day is considered the most powerful for spiritual awakening7 life lessons to learn from cricket10 beautiful first and middle baby names for your little prince10 sacred home names based on Lord Shiva for a blessed living spaceWhat Sudha Murty gets right about parenting (and most of us forget)Meet 8 animals with strange noses that are not just for smelling5 reasons why people with strict parents struggle with boundaries in relationships– And how to fix itTom Holland movies to watch before ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’: A complete MCU guide5 Mystical facts about Kashi Vishwanath templeFrom Sabyasachi to Gaurav Gupta: Indian designers who quietly dominated the Oscars 2026 red carpet123Hot PicksMaternity leaveBengal police reshuffleMatthew Van DykeGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingGreen card applicantsVisa Bulletin 2026Green Card HoldersUAE missile alertTulsi GabbardChief Ali LarijaniAssembly election dateBig Show rumoursSpurs Kings injury reportEid ul fitr 2026
NEW DELHI: Sukhmeet Singh and Dhiraj Kumar Agrawal have travelled the oceans, but their real test as merchant navy commanders came in the volatile Strait of Hormuz, an otherwise calmer oil and gas trade route now under the shadow of drones, missiles and rigged with anti-ship mines. Their objective — safely navigate two massive Indian LPG gas tankers through a war-hit path to ensure people back home keep getting cooking gas.Patience and experience was on their side — while the Sukhmeet-captained ‘Shivalik’ reached the Mundra port on Monday, the Dhiraj-steered ‘Nanda Devi’ docked in Kandla port’s Vandinar facility on early Tuesday, completing a difficult trip after being stranded for over a week on the West of Hormuz due to massive military strikes.
After the ships — Shivalik with 27 sailors and Nanda Devi with 30 — reached the Indian ports with over 92,000 tonnes of LPG, shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday morning held a virtual interaction with “the brave crews”, saying, “seafarers are the unsung heroes of global trade.” “Far away from your homes and families, you ensured that essential cargo reaches its destination safely…crew demonstrated exceptional calmness, vigilance and professionalism under challenging conditions,” he said.Officials, who met the sailors onboard the vessels, said the only problem crews faced was the “long wait”. They will be ready to sail again as most have travelled through the strait earlier, the officials said.Shipping secretary Vijay Kumar said the sailors “continued duty amid uncertainty” in one of the “world’s most critical choke point” at a time when the attacks on vessels had reduced traffic.TOI has learnt that Sukhmeet hails from Punjab’s Adampur. His family members said they had advised him to leave duty but Sukhmeet had said he would “return home only after completing the task” as it was his responsibility to bring back the critical cargo to India.Officials said Dhiraj is from Kantabanji in Odisha’s Balangir. His family members said they heaved a sigh of relief after ‘Nanda Devi’ crossed the strait.In response to a question on the shipping ministry’s interaction with the sailors, special secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha said that the intent was to thank them and praise their yeoman service. “They were all in their uniforms and looked healthy and cheerful,” he said.Sinha said there are about 3.2 lakh Indian seafarers and 90% of them employed on foreign-flagged vessels, signifying their calibre.
