Qatari gas shipments circle in Persian Gulf after nearing Strait of Hormuz

Two LNG tankers, Rasheeda and Al Daayen, carrying Qatari gas shipments changed destination to Pakistan and were later seen circling in the Persian Gulf near Oman after attempting earlier Monday to approach the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.

The two vessels had earlier moved toward the strategic waterway from Qatar, raising the prospect of one of the first attempts by loaded Qatari LNG carriers to leave the Gulf through Hormuz since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Ship-tracking data later showed both vessels reversed course.

Public vessel records indicated the tankers subsequently listed Pakistan as their next destination, but their latest movements suggested uncertainty over whether they would make another attempt to transit the strait.

As of the latest available tracking snapshots, the ships were operating near Oman after turning back.

The latest course changes come as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted by the ongoing regional conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, which has sharply reduced normal shipping flows through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints.

Had the two vessels completed the passage, they would have marked the first loaded LNG cargo transit through the strait since the conflict began, according to ship-tracking data.

The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant share of global seaborne oil and gas trade, and any disruption there has immediate implications for energy markets and regional shipping. Oman said April 5 it had held talks with Iran on options to help ensure smoother passage through the waterway amid regional tensions.