Qatar LNG Tanker Completes Transit of Strait of Hormuz

The Al Kharaitiyat tanker carrying liquefied natural gas from Qatar has transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the country’s first LNG export out of the region since the Iran war began. The vessel, which loaded at the Ras Laffan export plant earlier this month, exited the strait and is now in the Gulf of Oman.

Ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg shows the Al Kharaitiyat lists Pakistan as its next destination.

The tanker navigated the Tehran-approved northern route that hugs the Iranian coast through the strait. Qatar made several previous attempts to send shipments through Hormuz, but the tankers turned around each time. The successful passage comes after the effective closure of the waterway choked off global LNG supplies.

Qatar has not been able to move any LNG out of the Persian Gulf since the conflict began at the end of February. The country produced almost a fifth of global LNG supply last year. Prewar levels were roughly three shipments a day out of the Persian Gulf.

’s export plant have traversed the strait since the conflict began. Vessels continue to face security threats as both Iran and the US have implemented de facto blockades. The Al Kharaitiyat’s journey offers tentative signs that more LNG flows could resume, though volumes remain far below prewar norms.

Qatar’s Nakilat owns the Al Kharaitiyat, according to ship database Equasis. Nakilat and QatarEnergy did not respond to a request for comment. Another Qatar-owned LNG tanker named Mihzem is nearing the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Mihzem tanker is signalling Pakistan as destination. It is heading via the Iranian shipping lane. If the Mihzem traverses the strait, it would mark the second successful export for Qatar since the war started.