ISLAMABAD: An LNG carrier transporting liquefied natural gas from Qatar to Pakistan was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, despite reports that Pakistani authorities had obtained prior permission from Iran for the vessel’s safe passage.
The ship changed course after the attack, casting uncertainty over the delivery of the gas shipment to Pakistan.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier Al Mayeda was carrying gas from Qatar to Pakistan. Pakistani authorities had contacted Iranian officials regarding its safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and sources familiar with the matter said Iran had granted the vessel permission to pass.
The report said the permission was allegedly granted only a few hours before the attack. Nevertheless, the vessel was targeted on Friday, 30 October.
The identity of those responsible and the full circumstances of the attack remain unclear.
Qatar-based gas transportation company Nakilat confirmed in an official statement that its LNG carrier Al Mayeda was struck by unidentified objects while passing through Gulf waters on the evening of 30 October. The company said no crew member was injured and there was no reported environmental damage.
Nakilat said the vessel remains safe and operationally capable, while an assessment of any potential damage caused by the incident is under way. The company added that it remains in continuous contact with the vessel’s crew and relevant maritime security authorities in the region to ensure the crew’s safety.
Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Pakistan had held discussions with Iranian authorities to ensure Al Mayeda’s safe passage. According to the sources, Tehran had permitted the vessel to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but it faced an attack only a few hours later.
Information on the movement of ships indicated that Al Mayeda changed direction after the incident and headed back toward the Gulf. However, it is not clear at this stage whether the vessel will resume its journey to Pakistan or whether the LNG shipment will reach its intended destination.
Importantly, the report of prior permission from Iranian authorities is based on Bloomberg sources, while Nakilat’s official statement did not name any country or group as responsible for the attack. Therefore, it would not be correct at this stage to hold Iran responsible for the incident.
According to Bloomberg, Pakistan had secured safe passage through diplomatic contacts with Iran last month for several LNG carriers arriving from Qatar. Some of those vessels successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz and reached the Arabian Sea.
However, the latest attack on Al Mayeda has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of such arrangements and the continuity of future gas deliveries. The report said that if the current shipment does not reach Pakistan, the country may need to purchase replacement LNG.
Such a purchase could prove expensive, as gas prices in the international spot market are more than three times their pre-war levels. However, the relevant Pakistani authorities have made no definitive announcement regarding the loss of this particular shipment, a replacement purchase or any impact on gas supplies in the country.