SINGAPORE: A Pakistan-bound liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker is among several vessels that have recently exited the Strait of Hormuz with transponders switched off, according to ship-tracking data from LSEG and Kpler, as regional tensions escalate following continued US-Iran exchanges of attacks.
The development comes as three additional LNG carriers were reported to have passed through the strategic waterway and are now heading toward Asian destinations, although the exact timing of their transit remains uncertain due to intermittent tracking signals.
Among them, the QatarEnergy-controlled LNG tanker Lebrethah, which loaded cargo at Ras Laffan on May 22, is en route to Pakistan. Another vessel, Rasheeda, also operated by QatarEnergy, is heading toward Southeast Asia after carrying cargo since late February.
A third LNG tanker, Marigold, managed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has also reappeared on tracking systems after loading at Das Island on May 25 and is currently indicating a route toward India.
The vessels were last observed with tracking systems turned off while transiting near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint through which a significant share of LNG and crude oil shipments passes.
The situation coincides with heightened geopolitical tensions, as the United States and Iran exchanged air strikes for a second consecutive day, further raising concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supply routes.
Including the latest movements of Lebrethah, Rasheeda, and Marigold, a total of 12 LNG cargoes have reportedly transited the Strait of Hormuz since the escalation of conflict began at the end of February, according to tracking data.
By Reuters
