With U.S. and Iran blockades freezing the Strait of Hormuz, global LNG traffic — which had nearly halted — has resumed with one critical shipment.
According to vessel-tracking data, the Mubaraz LNG tanker, which loaded at the UAE's Das Island in early March, broke through the blockade and reached southern India. After completing loading, the ship waited inside the Gulf and switched off her AIS on March 31. After approximately four weeks running dark, the tanker reappeared off western India on April 27, confirming she had reached safer waters.
The tanker is currently routed to a terminal in China, with arrival expected on May 15. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one fifth of global LNG supply. Pre-war, three loaded LNG tankers transited the strait daily; over the past two months that number has fallen to nearly zero. Qatari LNG ships — among the world's largest exporters — were forced to turn back in recent weeks due to escalating tensions and the blockade.
Halted shipments have driven natural gas prices sharply higher on European and Asian spot markets. Maritime analysts say switching off transponders in high-risk zones like Hormuz — to evade detection or signal jamming — has become a standard crisis-period procedure.
Key Takeaways:
1. First LNG transit through Hormuz in two months: UAE's Mubaraz reached India.
2. The tanker loaded at Das Island in early March and went AIS-dark on March 31.
3. Her new route points to a Chinese terminal with a May 15 ETA.
4. Hormuz handles ~1/5 of global LNG supply; daily traffic dropped from 3 tankers to nearly zero.
5. Spot gas prices surged in Europe and Asia; AIS-dark transit has become a crisis norm.
