Jamshedpur: While war clouds loomed over the Middle East and the world watched the volatile Strait of Hormuz with bated breath, a brave engineer from the Steel City maneuvered a massive vessel through the danger zone to secure India’s energy needs. Ansh Tripathi, the Second Engineer aboard the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) vessel ‘Shivalik’, successfully crossed the “trial by fire” on March 13.
The vessel, carrying 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG for Indian Oil, is now sailing safely toward Indian waters. It is expected to anchor at Gujarat’s Mundra Port today, Monday, March 16—marking a victory of duty for the nation and a miracle for his waiting family.
A Mission Amidst Conflict
Ansh, a resident of Ashiana Woodlands in Pardih, Jamshedpur, joined his duty on the Shivalik on November 26, 2025. What began as a routine assignment quickly turned into a high-stakes mission as tensions peaked between the US and opposing forces in the Persian Gulf.
The ship, loaded with gas from the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, had to navigate the narrow and sensitive Strait of Hormuz. For the Tripathi family, March 13 was a nightmare. With communication lines cut and news of potential strikes dominating the airwaves, they sat glued to their TV screens, praying for a breakthrough.
Emotional Reunion: “A Stone Lifted from My Chest”
Ansh’s father, Mithilesh Kumar Tripathi, a retired Deputy Manager from UCIL Jadugora, broke down in tears while speaking to the media. “My only fear was that my child would become a casualty in the war of superpowers. I haven’t slept in a week. Now that the ship has crossed Hormuz, I feel a heavy stone has been lifted from my chest,” he said.
His mother, Chanda Tripathi, attributed the safety of her son to divine intervention and the diplomacy of the Indian government. “Every time I heard about the danger on the news, my soul trembled. I thank the Modi government for their alertness. I just want to hold my son again,” she shared emotionally.
The Wait of a Family
Ansh’s wife, Chanda Mishra Tripathi, a Chartered Accountant at Tata Steel, endured the silence of the sea for days. Her two-year-old son, Tanay, sensed the tension at home even if he couldn’t understand it. “We had zero contact. Every second was filled with thoughts of his safety. This relief belongs to the entire country,” Chanda said.
A Stellar Career
Ansh Tripathi’s journey from the classrooms of Jamshedpur to the high seas is one of academic and professional excellence:
-
Schooling: Motilal Nehru Public School (2004) and AECS Narwa/Jadugora (2008).
-
Engineering: Mechanical Engineering from BIT (2012) and Marine Engineering from Cochin Shipyard Limited (2015).
-
Career: Joined the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) in December 2014.
As news of his safety spread, relatives and well-wishers swarmed the Tripathi residence in Pardih, turning a week of anxiety into a celebration of courage and homecoming.
