QatarEnergy-controlled LNG tanker exits Strait of Hormuz, first in nearly three weeks

A liquefied natural gas tanker controlled by QatarEnergy has successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data. The vessel, named Al Areesh, is the first QatarEnergy-controlled LNG tanker to leave the crucial waterway since the Al Rekayyat was struck in early July. Its departure occurred overnight on July 29.

The Al Areesh loaded its cargo at Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal between July 4-6 and is currently en route to Port Qasim, Pakistan, with an expected arrival on July 31. The previous LNG tanker to depart the Strait of Hormuz was the Al Hamra on July 11, which had loaded at the United Arab Emirates' Das Island.

While the Al Areesh's departure is a notable event, other maritime traffic continues through the region. Data shows that twelve commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, with six entering and six exiting, an increase from previous days. Separately, nineteen commodity ships passed through the Bab al-Mandab strait on Wednesday, though this number was down from Monday and Tuesday.

Despite increased transits, security risks persist, particularly in the Red Sea. Visible crude loadings from the Saudi port of Yanbu have fallen significantly, with analysts citing renewed security concerns around Bab al-Mandab as a factor influencing tanker routes. This disruption has implications for Asian refiners, as Yanbu accounts for a considerable portion of their seaborne crude and condensate imports.