A Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier was struck by unidentified objects while sailing through Gulf waters on Friday evening, its owner confirmed on Sunday, in the latest attack on commercial shipping in a region already on edge. The vessel, Al Mayeda, belongs to Qatar Gas Transport Company, known as Nakilat, and was carrying Qatari gas bound for Pakistan when it was hit.
Key Takeaways
- Al Mayeda, a Nakilat LNG carrier bound for Pakistan, was struck by unidentified objects in Gulf waters on Friday evening.
- All 25 crew members are safe, with no injuries and no environmental damage reported.
- The vessel remains safe and operational, but it is unclear whether it will resume its journey to Pakistan.
Nakilat said in a statement published through the Qatar Stock Exchange on Sunday that the vessel is in a safe condition and operational, and that the impact of the incident is being assessed. The company said it is maintaining direct contact with the relevant maritime security authorities.
None of the crew members was injured and no environmental damage was reported.
What Happened to Al Mayeda
Al Mayeda is a Marshall Islands-flagged liquefied natural gas carrier owned by Nakilat. It was transiting Gulf waters on Friday evening when it was struck, according to the company’s statement on Sunday. Nakilat described the cause only as unidentified objects and did not name an attacker.
India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that the vessel was struck in a projectile attack and that all 25 crew members, including six Indian nationals, were safe. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency had earlier reported the crew safe with no environmental impact.
Following the incident, vessel-tracking information showed the tanker reversing course and heading back towards the Persian Gulf. It remains unclear whether Al Mayeda will resume its scheduled journey to Pakistan or whether the LNG cargo will reach its intended destination.
A Voyage Cleared Hours Earlier, Then Attacked
According to a Bloomberg report, Pakistan had negotiated safe passage for the vessel with Iranian officials before the attack, and Iranian authorities had reportedly approved its passage just hours before it was targeted. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the identity of those responsible have not been established.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about Pakistan’s energy security and the safety of commercial shipping through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz, near where the vessel was sailing, carries a large share of the world’s seaborne oil and gas, and shipping through the waterway has come under repeated attack in recent months.
Gulf Shipping Under Strain
The strike on Al Mayeda is the latest in a run of attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Gulf. Days earlier, another tanker attacked in the strait was reported with its crew safe, and four tankers caught fire in a separate Hormuz incident. Al Jazeera noted that the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency has reported an increase in attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The pressure on Gulf shipping is also reshaping long-term gas trade. QatarEnergy has moved to secure supplies outside the region, as seen in QatarEnergy’s long-term LNG deal for US cargoes, a deal framed around Hormuz risks.
- Al Mayeda: Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier owned by Qatar’s Nakilat
- Cargo: Qatari liquefied natural gas bound for Pakistan
- Crew: all 25 safe, including six Indian nationals
- Damage: no injuries, no environmental damage; vessel safe and operational
- Attacker: unidentified; circumstances not yet established
What to Watch Next
Attention now turns to Nakilat’s assessment of the vessel and whether Al Mayeda resumes its journey to Pakistan. Maritime authorities are expected to clarify what struck the carrier, and shippers will watch whether Gulf transits face further disruption in the days ahead. For now, the confirmed facts are narrow but reassuring: the crew is safe, the vessel is operational, and no environmental damage has been reported.