Gas Tanker Carrying Qatari Cargo Struck by Projectile in Vital Strait of Hormuz
A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker carrying Qatari cargo was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to security intelligence firms and vessel tracking data. This raises concerns of further disruption to super-cooled fuel supplies via this vital waterway. Security firms Vanguard Tech and Marisks identified the vessel as the "Gaslog Shanghai" LNG tanker. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an overnight attack on a ship in the Strait off the Omani coast, not disclosing its identity, but confirming no environmental impact thus far. Vessel tracking data showed the tanker loaded LNG from Qatar around July 27, then ceased transmitting signals on July 31 near the Strait's western entrance. The vessel reportedly was not broadcasting during the attack. Gaslog, the Greece-based company managing the tanker, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, as the incident occurred outside business hours. A company spokeswoman later confirmed in a statement that the "Gaslog Shanghai" operations manager reported the tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile, causing a power outage. She added crew were safe, unharmed, and the resulting fire successfully extinguished. This incident adds to increasing disruption for LNG tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for roughly one-fifth of global fuel flows. Earlier in July, another Qatari tanker was attacked near the Strait, prompting Qatar, the world's second-largest LNG exporter, to suspend shipments via this strategic waterway for three weeks. In a separate alert, UKMTO reported Saturday that another tanker observed an explosion in nearby waters but sustained no damage. The incident follows another attack on a Gaslog-managed LNG tanker while docked at a northern Egyptian port earlier this week. Security firms reported the "Gaslog Salem" was targeted by a drone Wednesday in Damietta, with no group yet claiming responsibility.
