A freighter carrying Qatar liquefied natural gas ( LNG ), which was originally scheduled to deliver the cargo to Pakistan, was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. It is noteworthy that Pakistan had previously coordinated with Iran regarding the safe passage of vessels and was said to have received permission to proceed a few hours before the attack occurred.
According to a report by Bloomberg on Sunday, citing direct sources, the ship that was attacked was the “Al Mayeda” vessel, which flew the flag of the Marshall Islands. At the time of the attack, it was carrying liquefied natural gas from Qatar and was heading towards the Strait of Hormuz. After the attack, the ship changed its course and returned to the Persian Gulf.
Insiders said that the Pakistani government had previously engaged in consultations with Iran to ensure that this shipment of liquefied natural gas could pass through the Strait of Hormuz safely. It is reported that Iran approved the relevant passage arrangements a few hours before the attack occurred.
However, it is still unclear why the ship was attacked after obtaining permission, and it is not possible to determine who is responsible for the attack. Bloomberg has not been able to independently confirm the specific details of Iran's decision to allow passage.
Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowar ( Sarbananda Sonowal ) stated on the social platform X that the ship was attacked by projectiles, and all 25 crew members on board were safe, including 6 Indian citizens.
Qatar Natural Gas Transport Company ( Nakilat ) confirmed on Sunday that its vessel “ Al Mayeda ” was attacked, but it still remains operational. The vessel is currently undergoing inspection and damage assessment.
According to reports from The Associated Press, Qatar stated that the attack did not result in any casualties among the crew nor cause environmental pollution, however, the identity of the attackers has not yet been disclosed.
As of Sunday, neither Pakistan's Ministry of Petroleum, Qatar Energy Company, nor Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Bloomberg's requests for comments.
This incident has created new uncertainties for Pakistan's energy supply. Since the outbreak of the war in Iran in February this year, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, and Pakistan has faced energy supply shortages for several months in a row.
Insiders revealed that over the past month, Pakistan has been in communication with Iran regarding several other shipments of Qatar's liquefied natural gas, seeking guarantees for safe navigation. Previously, the relevant vessels successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf of Oman.
Vessels that were permitted to pass this time were still attacked, which has drawn attention to the reliability of this coordination mechanism.
It is currently unclear whether the vessel with the identifier “Al Mayeda” will attempt to cross the strait again, nor is it known when the liquefied natural gas it carries will be delivered.
If this shipment of goods ultimately cannot be delivered to Pakistan as planned, the country may be forced to turn to the spot market for additional purchases. Bloomberg notes that the current spot price of liquefied natural gas has already exceeded three times the pre-war level, and additional purchases could further increase Pakistan's energy import costs.
Although some energy transportation has gradually resumed, the scale of liquefied natural gas shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is still far below pre-war levels.
Data shows that in October of this year, the volume of liquefied natural gas transported through the Strait of Hormuz was about 30% of the pre-war level. Since September, Qatar has continuously arranged for LNG vessels to pass through the strait, with some transports using older ships in order to reduce the additional insurance costs associated with high-risk voyages.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important passage for Qatar to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the international market. Compared to crude oil transportation, which can bypass the strait through some overland pipelines, LNG exports rely more on specialized maritime facilities and fleets for transportation.
Previously, Iran has repeatedly required vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz to follow its designated routes and to coordinate with relevant Iranian authorities. Some vessels, however, chose to navigate under the protection of U.S. military forces.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office ( UKMTO ) reported on Sunday that a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an unidentified projectile. The agency has not yet confirmed whether this incident is related to the attack on the “ Al Mayeda ” vessel.
Currently, the vessel “Al Mayeda” is still undergoing loss assessment, and its subsequent sailing plans as well as the delivery arrangements for the natural gas it carries have not yet been determined.
