An LNG carrier managed by ADNOC Logistics & Services has reportedly crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is now positioned off India’s west coast, according to ship-tracking data.
If verified, this would mark the first loaded LNG tanker to pass through the waterway since the Iran conflict began on 28 February. ADNOC had not issued an official confirmation at the time of reporting.
The vessel, with a capacity of 136,357 cubic meters, was last recorded in the Gulf on 30 March. Recent tracking data from ICIS LNG Edge, MarineTraffic, and LSEG indicate its reappearance near India, suggesting a possible transit after a prolonged signal gap.
Maritime data has shown that vessels operating in the region have increasingly adopted evasive measures, including disabling tracking systems or transmitting incorrect identification signals, to reduce exposure to potential threats or detention.
Alex Froley, LNG analyst at ICIS, noted that while data irregularities can occur due to signal errors or identity masking, the vessel’s reported position does not immediately indicate such anomalies. He added that a confirmed transit could signal cautious optimism for LNG flows, though it would not guarantee broader resumption of traffic given the volatile situation.
Attempts by several Qatari LNG carriers to pass through the strait in April were unsuccessful, while an empty Omani LNG vessel managed to transit earlier in the month.
