Qatari LNG Tanker Bound for Pakistan Struck Near Strait of Hormuz

A Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker carrying a cargo for Pakistan was struck by unidentified projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, according to Bloomberg, just hours after Iranian officials had approved its passage. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, Al Mayeda, is owned by Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat). The identity of the attacker remains unclear, and tracking data showed the ship reversed course after the impact.

Nakilat said no crew members were injured, no environmental damage was reported, and the vessel remained under control while the extent of the damage was assessed. India's Shipping Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, described the incident as a projectile attack and confirmed that all 25 crew members, including six Indian nationals, were safe. Qatar condemned the strike as a threat to global energy supplies and said it had launched an investigation.

Pakistan had reportedly negotiated safe passage for the tanker with Iranian officials, a practice it has followed for several earlier cargoes. The incident indicates that even clearance from Tehran may no longer guarantee a secure crossing through the strategic waterway. It is not yet clear whether the LNG cargo will still reach Pakistan.

The development matters because Pakistan has leaned heavily on its ties with Tehran to keep Qatari LNG flowing, receiving three Qatari cargoes in October. LNG shipments through Hormuz stood at roughly 30 percent of pre-war volumes during the month, underscoring how constrained the route has become.

If the cargo fails to arrive, Pakistan may be forced to buy a replacement on the spot market, where prices have climbed to more than three times pre-war levels. The country has already paid heavily for spot cargoes since the conflict began, and costlier LNG typically feeds into higher RLNG prices while adding pressure on gas supply to households and industry as winter demand rises.

The strike highlights the mounting energy-security risks facing import-dependent economies, with shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz remaining vulnerable despite diplomatic arrangements. For Pakistan, the outcome of the investigation and the fate of the cargo will be closely watched as it manages tight gas supplies and rising import costs.