India turns to Iran ships for delivery

New Delhi: India has started loading Iranian crude in tankers owned by the Islamic Republic, industry officials said, marking a shift from a decades-old policy that required state-run refiners to transport oil in vessels owned by local shipping companies.

State-run Hindustan Petroleum is importing crude in a suezmax tanker belonging to National Iranian Tanker Company, according to an industry official familiar with Iran’s monthly shipping plans, who declined to be named. The ship is MT Clove, a second source said.