Qatari LNG Tanker Awaits Salvage After Incident Near Strait Of Hormuz
Qatari LNG tanker awaits salvage after Hormuz incident.
A Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker, Al Rekayyat, remains stationary near the Strait of Hormuz awaiting salvage operations after being struck by a projectile and suffering a fire onboard, according to ship tracking data and industry sources.
The vessel, which was carrying LNG, was hit on its port side overnight on Tuesday, causing a fire in the engine room. Industry sources said efforts were continuing to fully extinguish the fire before salvage operations could begin. All crew members aboard the tanker were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.
The LNG cargo stored inside the tanker’s main storage tanks remains secure, with no reported breach of the tanks. A source familiar with the situation said the vessel’s condition was stable and that the risk of a major explosion would remain low as long as the ship was not subjected to any additional attacks.
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Tracking data showed that the tanker was positioned near the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, close to Oman’s coastline. Two vessels, including a tugboat and a separate service ship, were operating near the damaged tanker as efforts continued to manage the situation and prepare for further assistance.
The Al Rekayyat is owned by Nakilat (Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd.), which had not immediately responded to requests for comment. QatarEnergy also did not provide an immediate statement regarding the incident.
The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Qatar saying that Iran bears legal responsibility for the attack and summoning Iran’s deputy ambassador to protest the targeting of the vessel. It marks the first reported strike on a Qatari LNG ship since the beginning of the ongoing Iran conflict on February 28.
Also Read: Oil Tankers Resume Limited Transits Through Hormuz After Iran Attacks
