Tankers Divert from Strait of Hormuz Following Missile Strikes

At least four major oil and gas tankers have abruptly reversed course near the Strait of Hormuz, fleeing one of the world’s primary energy corridors after renewed missile strikes targeted commercial vessels. The incidents, which damaged a Qatari LNG carrier and a Saudi crude tanker, have forced an immediate reassessment of maritime safety.

Editorial·July 8, 2026·reads: 170

Tankers Divert from Strait of Hormuz Following Missile Strikes

Ship tracking data confirms that three empty LNG carriers operated by QatarEnergy—the Al Ghariya, Duhail, and Al Ruwais—abandoned their transit toward Ras Laffan terminal late Tuesday. Simultaneously, an Indian-flagged vessel carrying two million barrels of Kuwaiti crude turned back off the coast of Oman. These diversions underscore a deepening crisis as maritime security agencies elevate the threat level to severe.

Despite these exits, the waterway remains partially active. The crude carrier Tenjun successfully cleared the strait with Qatari oil, while the Pertamina Pride exited after disabling its tracking transponder, a tactic increasingly adopted by operators to evade detection. Congestion is mounting outside the Gulf, with over 10 empty LNG carriers idling near Qatar and dozens of other vessels lingering near India and the Strait of Malacca. As exports from key facilities like Das Island remain throttled, the risk of tightening global supplies and surging shipping costs continues to pressure energy markets.