An LNG tanker managed by UAE’s ADNOC has reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is now near India, according to ship-tracking data. If verified, this would mark the first loaded LNG vessel to navigate the strait since the onset of the Iran war on February 28. ADNOC has not yet commented on the situation.
The 136,357-cubic-meter tanker, last tracked in the Gulf on March 30, has reappeared off India’s west coast, indicating its passage through the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of silence. Analysts note that vessels in the Gulf have been employing evasive maneuvers, such as halting location transmissions or using false identification numbers, to avoid potential targeting.
Alex Froley, a senior LNG analyst at ICIS, emphasized that while the tanker’s crossing could signal hope for the gas market, it does not guarantee further crossings, as conditions remain fluid. Previous attempts by Qatari tankers to cross the strait in April were unsuccessful, although an empty Omani LNG tanker made it earlier this month.
Additionally, security firm Windward reported a decline in Hormuz transits to eight crossings, with no dark activity recorded for two consecutive days. Meanwhile, east of Hormuz, the Chabahar tanker cluster remains stable, with some vessels adapting to enforcement constraints.
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