SINGAPORE: A Qatar Energy-controlled liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker has exited the Strait of Hormuz and is en route to Pakistan’s Port Qasim, marking the first visible departure by a QatarEnergy-operated LNG vessel from the strategic waterway in nearly three weeks, according to ship-tracking data released on Thursday.
The Al Areesh LNG tanker, which loaded its cargo at Qatar’s Ras Laffan export terminal between July 4 and 6, sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz overnight on July 29, according to data from analytics firms Kpler and LSEG.
LSEG tracking data indicates the vessel is expected to arrive at Port Qasim, Pakistan, on July 31.
The departure is the first recorded exit by a QatarEnergy-controlled LNG carrier through the Strait of Hormuz since the Al Rekayyat was struck in early July amid escalating regional tensions.
The last LNG tanker to leave the strait before that was the Al Hamra, which departed on July 11 carrying a cargo loaded from the UAE’s Das Island, according to Kpler.
Regional Shipping Activity Gradually Recovers
Separately, the Mraweh LNG tanker, operated by ADNOC Gas, reappeared inside the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after last being detected outside the waterway in ballast on July 24. The vessel remained without cargo, according to Kpler data.
Neither QatarEnergy nor ADNOC immediately responded to requests for comment.
According to Kpler, 12 commodity vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, with six entering and six exiting, indicating a modest increase in traffic compared with the previous two days.
Bab el-Mandeb Traffic Remains Under Pressure
Shipping activity through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains subdued following the Iran-aligned Houthis’ declaration of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
Kpler recorded 19 commodity vessels passing through the strategic chokepoint on Wednesday, including eight inbound and 11 outbound ships. Four of the outbound vessels were crude oil tankers. LSEG, however, estimated total transits at 26 vessels.
Analysts cautioned that actual traffic could be higher, as some ships continue operating with their transponders switched off.
Visible crude oil loadings from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu export terminal declined by at least 30% last week, according to Kpler and AXSMarine. However, analytics firm Vortexa said overall exports remained broadly stable due to increased activity by so-called “dark tankers” operating without standard tracking signals.
“We have observed a clear increase in the number of crude and condensate tankers heading north after loading in the Red Sea,” said George Morris, an analyst at Vortexa.
“The shift reflects the renewed security risk around Bab el-Mandeb. Cargoes loaded at Yanbu accounted for around 15% of Asia’s seaborne crude and condensate imports in June, so any sustained disruption would have significant implications for Asian refiners,” he added.
By Reuters
