Greek LNG Tanker Struck Off Oman Exiting Strait of Hormuz
A Greek-operated LNG carrier was attacked off Oman while leaving the Strait of Hormuz, the second strike on a vessel carrying Qatari gas in under a month.
The GasLog Shanghai was struck on 31 July as it exited the strategically vital waterway, according to Greek City Times. The vessel’s owner, GasLog, confirmed the incident and reported that the ship remains in stable condition with no crew injuries.
The carrier had loaded its cargo of Qatari liquefied natural gas at the Ras Laffan Industrial Complex on 27 July, just days before the attack occurred.
Second Attack in Under a Month
This incident represents the second assault on an LNG carrier transporting Qatari gas through the region. On 6 July, Iran attacked the QatarEnergy-controlled tanker Al Rekayyat, alongside a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, as Greek City Times reports.
The timing of the latest strike is particularly notable, coming only two days after another QatarEnergy-operated LNG carrier, the Al-Areesh, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian approval.
Critical Energy Chokepoint Under Threat
The Strait of Hormuz represents one of the world’s most vital energy transit routes, with approximately one-fifth of global LNG supply normally flowing through the narrow waterway. Iran’s earlier decision to effectively shut down the strait had severely constrained exports from both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Qatar held the position of the world’s second-largest LNG exporter in 2025, trailing only the United States. A ceasefire announcement in mid-June between the US, Israel and Iran had generated optimism that the strait would reopen to normal traffic.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahaman Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister, stated at that time that QatarEnergy anticipated resuming normal production levels within several weeks.
European Energy Supplies Disrupted
Those recovery plans were derailed by the attack on the Al Rekayyat. In late July, QatarEnergy extended its force majeure declaration on LNG shipments to European customers through the end of September.
Italian energy firm Edison has experienced some of the most severe impacts, with 24 cargoes delayed since early April. The continued disruption threatens Europe’s energy security as the continent seeks alternatives to other sources of natural gas supply.
The attacks underscore the vulnerability of global energy infrastructure to regional conflicts and the strategic leverage Iran maintains over critical shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf.
With information from Greek City Times
