LNG cargo bound for Pakistan attacked near Strait of Hormuz
Nakilat says the Al-Maida was struck by unidentified objects on 30 October and no crew were hurt, while Doha and Riyadh condemned the attack and Islamabad has not commented.
A liquefied natural gas carrier taking a Qatari cargo to Pakistan was struck near the Strait of Hormuz on the evening of Friday 30 October and has turned back towards the Gulf, leaving open whether the shipment will reach Pakistan.
Qatar's gas shipping company Nakilat said in a statement that the Marshall Islands-flagged Al-Maida was hit by unidentified objects while transiting Gulf waters that evening. No member of the crew was injured and no environmental damage has been reported, the company said. The vessel is safe and operational, possible damage is being assessed, and the company said it is in contact with regional maritime security authorities and with the crew.
Shipping tracking data showed the carrier changed course after the incident and headed back into the Gulf. Aaj News reported that it is not yet clear whether the ship will resume the voyage to Pakistan or whether the cargo has been cancelled.
Bloomberg reported on Sunday that the tanker was attacked despite clearance from Iranian officials. The agency, cited by Aaj News and Independent Urdu, said Pakistani officials negotiated with Tehran on Friday for a safe route for the vessel and that Iran granted permission a few hours before the strike. Aaj News said the Business Recorder also reported that Pakistani officials had obtained prior permission from Iran. No country or group has been named as responsible; Nakilat's statement assigned no blame, and the reports of Iranian clearance rest on foreign media accounts.
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned the attack in a statement on X on Monday, saying it rejected all violations that endanger maritime navigation and the security of global energy supply. Qatar's foreign ministry condemned the strike on Sunday, calling it a dangerous act that threatens the safety of maritime shipping and global energy deliveries. Doha said it reserves the right under international law and the UN Charter to take all measures needed to protect its assets and the safety of its vessels and crews. No Pakistani official has spoken publicly about the shipment, its loss or the effect on gas supply.
The attack came as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted by the war in Iran. QatarEnergy has suspended LNG deliveries to Pakistan and other buyers under contract, pushing Asian spot prices higher; Aaj News reported that international prices are more than three times their pre-war level. Pakistan, which relies on imported gas, is burning more furnace oil to generate electricity during the evening peak, Independent Urdu reported.
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