A Liberia-flagged oil tanker that set sail from Saudi Arabia on March 3 carrying around one million barrels of crude oil docked in Mumbai on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), crossing the Strait of Hormuz where marine traffic had stalled following the start of hostilities on February 28. Also read: West Asia war updates on March 12, 2026This is possibly the first such vessel to reach Indian shores since the beginning of the West Asia conflict. India’s daily crude oil needs are some five million barrels, more than 85% of which is imported. According to Reuters, the vessel is the first crude oil tanker to reach India from West Asia since the joint strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28. Press Trust of India reported that “another large ship is likely to reach Indian ports in a day or two”.

Source: The Hindu March 12, 2026 22:10 UTC