Qatari LNG Ship Fired On Despite Reported Iran Clearance
A tanker loaded with Qatari gas for Pakistan came under fire near the Strait of Hormuz. The attack shows that ships around the strait still face danger.
Why this cargo matters to Pakistan
Pakistan has struggled for months with an energy shortfall caused by upheaval in the Middle East. If this cargo does not arrive, it could be forced to buy on the spot market. That is the market for fuel sold for immediate delivery rather than under long contracts, and prices there are more than three times their level before the war.
Pakistan's contacts with Tehran and its mediating role seem to help. Over the past month it has talked to Iranian authorities about the safety of several other Qatari LNG shipments. All of them crossed safely into the Gulf of Oman.
A route under pressure
LNG, or liquefied natural gas, is gas chilled into liquid so tankers can carry it. Its flow through Hormuz held steady in October at about 30% of pre-war levels. Since September Qatar has kept sending LNG through the strait, including on older ships. These can lower the added insurance cost of such risky trips.
Crew and official reactions
The ship is the Al Mayeda, a Marshall Islands-flagged carrier. India's shipping minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, wrote on X that it had been targeted in a projectile attack. He said all 25 crew, six of them Indian nationals, were safe, but gave no further details.
Qatar Gas Transport Company, known as Nakilat, said on Sunday that the vessel was still operational and under assessment.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry said Qatar "reserves its right to take all necessary measures" to protect its assets, ships and crews. Authorities are investigating the incident and those responsible, it added.
Pakistan's petroleum ministry, QatarEnergy and Iran's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Iran's reported green light
According to Bloomberg's sources, people with direct knowledge who asked not to be named, Pakistan negotiated with Iran to secure safe passage for the carrier. The ship was sailing toward the strait with Qatari LNG on Friday when it came under fire. Iran was understood to have signalled approval only hours before the shooting.
No explanation has been given for the fire on the tanker, and it is unknown whether it will still sail on to its destination. Ship-tracking data shows it later turned around and headed into the Persian Gulf.
Our view
Pakistan's arrangement had worked for other cargoes, so the central question is who fired and whether they knew of the Iranian clearance. Qatar's investigation, or a statement from Tehran, would answer it. Until then, buyers relying on negotiated passage cannot tell whether this was an isolated breakdown or a sign the arrangement is unreliable.
Source: gCaptain