Qatar Brings Empty LNG Tanker Back Through Strait of Hormuz for First Time Since War Began

According to Bloomberg, Qatar has brought an empty liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker back into the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the war in Iran began. The return of the ship signals that the major LNG producer is preparing to ramp up exports.

The vessel's return

The Al Hamla (IMO: 9337743), owned by Qatar's state-owned shipping company, appeared at the Ras Laffan (LOCODE: QARLF) export plant on Thursday, June 18, according to ship-tracking data from ShipAtlas. The vessel had stopped transmitting a signal near western India approximately one week earlier.

Part of a wider reopening

The tanker's arrival follows the signing of an interim peace deal between the United States and Iran, which calls for a rapid reopening of the strait. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz had curbed access to approximately one-fifth of global LNG supply, with only limited shipments passing through, either on vessels that went dark by switching off their transponders to conceal their location, or with direct approval from Tehran.

Bloomberg has also reported that the first Saudi supertankers have begun crossing the Strait of Hormuz following the deal.

Qatar aims to restore export capacity within two months

Qatar is aiming to restore most of its export capacity within two months of the Strait of Hormuz reopening, Bloomberg reported earlier this week. Doing so will require securing vessels to lift shipments. Until the Al Hamla's return, no empty Qatari LNG tanker had sailed into the Persian Gulf since the conflict began in late February.

Several other empty vessels linked to Qatar were reported to have begun heading back toward the Middle East earlier this week.

^{Source: Bloomberg L.P.}