What happened
According to people with direct knowledge who were not authorized to speak publicly, Pakistan negotiated with Iran to secure clearance for the Al Mayeda before the vessel came under fire on Friday in waters by the Strait of Hormuz. Those people said Iranian authorities were understood to have given a go ahead only hours earlier. The Marshall Islands flagged tanker, carrying liquefied natural gas from Qatar and heading toward the waterway, then turned back toward the Persian Gulf, ship tracking showed.
India's shipping chief, Sarbananda Sonowal, posted on X that the vessel was targeted in a projectile attack and said all 25 crew members were safe, including six Indian nationals. He did not provide further details. It was not immediately clear why the ship was attacked or whether it will still try to reach its destination.
Official responses and ship status
"Qatar reserves its right to take all necessary measures, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, to protect its assets and safeguard its vessels and their crews," Qatar's Foreign Ministry stated on Sunday, adding that officials are looking into the incident and who was behind it. On Sunday, Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd., known as Nakilat, said the carrier was still operational and undergoing assessment.
What it means for flows and Pakistan's energy squeeze
The episode underlines the ongoing risk for vessels transiting near Hormuz and adds a new headache for Pakistan, which has faced an energy shortfall for months amid Middle East turmoil. Drawing on its ties with Tehran and mediator role, Pakistan has been in contact with Iranian authorities about several other Qatari LNG cargoes during the past month, and every one of them reached the Gulf of Oman.
In October, LNG flows via Hormuz remained roughly unchanged at about 30% of pre war levels. Since September, Qatar has kept LNG moving through the strait, at times using older vessels that can help offset additional insurance costs linked to the risky passage. If this cargo does not arrive, Pakistan may need to buy on the spot market, where prices are running at more than three times pre war levels.
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The bottom line: shipping risk around Hormuz props up LNG risk premiums, which matters for importers' budgets and for investors watching fuel sensitive equities and freight rates.
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