Qatari LNG Tanker Sailing Towards Hormuz Strait, First Since The Outbreak Of War.

Tehran; May 2026: Qatari LNG tanker Al Kharaitiyat was sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz as it has been updated yesterday (09th May 2026) after departing Qatar’s Ras Laffan en route to Port Qasim in Pakistan, according to LSEG shipping data. A successful passage would mark the first transit by a Qatari LNG tanker through the strait since the start of the war on Iran. There was no immediate comment from Qatar Energy.

Earlier, on April 06th this year, 02 tankers carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar had to abandon an effort to exit the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, delaying what would have been the first exports to buyers outside of the region since the war started. The Al Daayen and Rasheeda, which each loaded LNG from Qatar’s export plant in late February, have u-turned away from the strait after earlier heading eastward toward the waterway near Oman, according to ship-tracking data, reported by Maverick News 30.

The effective closure of the key waterway near Iran and the Arabian Peninsula has choked off energy flows to global markets, disrupting about a fifth of the world’s supply of LNG. Another tanker, which appeared to not be carrying a shipment, passed through the strait over the weekend.

As per yesterdays (09th may) updates, the LNG is being sold by Qatar to Pakistan, who is a mediator in the war, under a government-to-government deal, according to Qatari official sources. They said Iran had approved the shipment to help build confidence with Qatar and Pakistan. Pakistan has been in discussions with Iran to allow a limited number of LNG tankers to pass through the strait, as Islamabad urgently needs to address its gas shortage, a source briefed media reporters yesterday.

Iran agreed to assist, and the two sides are coordinating the first vessel’s safe passage carrying gas supplied under Pakistan’s agreement with Qatar, its main LNG supplier, the source added. The vessel, managed by Nakilat Shipping Qatar Ltd and sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, has a cargo capacity of 211,986 cubic meters, according to LSEG data.

Qatar is the world’s second-largest exporter of LNG, with shipments mostly going to buyers in Asia. Iranian attacks knocked out 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, with repairs expected to sideline 12.8 million tons per year of the fuel for three to five years.

State producer Qatar Energy extended force majeure on its liquefied natural gas supply through mid-June, according to official release, as the Strait of Hormuz remains almost entirely closed to tanker traffic. Qatar Energy customers received the notice.

Force majeure is declared when extraordinary situations prevent companies from performing on their commercial agreements. Qatar Energy has sent periodic notices on force majeures since the start of the Iran war in late February.

Global gas prices in Europe and Asia have surged since the conflict, with almost one fifth of LNG supplies choked off, including those from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility was damaged from Iranian missile strikes in March.

Team Maverick.