Shiptracking data is showing that a LNG tanker chartered by India’s Petronet has crossed the Strait of Hormuz today. The vessel is said to be headed east to the exit of the strait after having been stranded on the west side for over three months already.
Data from Kpler and LSEG showed the vessel picking up cargo at Qatar’s Ras Laffan terminal in early March before being “stuck” afterwards as the waterway was in de facto closure. But upon the US-Iran deal now, the tanker is showing movement in exiting the region and that’s a positive signal if any.
While the data doesn’t specify the tanker’s destination, a Reuters source has said that the cargo will be delivered to the Dahej terminal in India.
Considering the details, it is a positive development but we’ll see if there will be more to follow suit accordingly. Or more specifically, how much more.
I would also be more ecstatic if the LNG tanker was meant for a different destination i.e. to Asia or perhaps another US ally. For some context, there have been shadow fleets moving in and out of the Strait of Hormuz that were meant for China and India even during the war already
