More Qatari LNG cargoes slip through Hormuz as traffic rebuilds despite war risks
Four LNG vessels carrying Qatari cargoes reappeared outside the Strait of Hormuz around October 2-3 after transiting the waterway, extending a recent increase in Qatar's LNG traffic despite security risks, Kpler and LSEG shiptracking data show.
More liquefied natural gas cargoes loaded from Ras Laffan have reappeared outside the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend after transiting the waterway, extending a recent increase in Qatar’s LNG traffic despite ongoing security risks linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, Reuters reported on Monday, citing Kpler and LSEG shiptracking data.
Four LNG vessels carrying Qatari cargoes reappeared outside the strait around October 2-3. Three — Bu Samra, Al Gattara and Al Sadd — are QatarEnergy-linked: Al Gattara is signalling for Zhejiang, China, while Al Sadd delivered its cargo to the Dahej terminal in India on October 3. The fourth, Al Kharsaah, is managed by Seapeak Maritime.
All four were last seen inside the strait between September 18-27. Many vessels make “dark transits” by switching off their AIS transponders to avoid detection. A fifth vessel, the Seapeak-managed Al Marrouna, reappeared in ballast inside the strait off Qatar on October 2. QatarEnergy and Seapeak Maritime did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The pick-up follows September’s rebound: 19-21 LNG cargoes exited Hormuz last month — the most since the war began, per S&P Global and Kpler data — though still far below pre-war levels of about three cargoes a day.
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