First QatarEnergy LNG tanker in nearly three weeks exits the Strait of Hormuz

Ship-tracking data shows that the Al-Areesh, a liquefied natural gas tanker controlled by QatarEnergy, sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz overnight on Wednesday 29 July 2026, the first such vessel visible leaving the waterway since 11 July. According to Kpler and LSEG data, the cargo was loaded at Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal around 4 to 6 July, and the ship is heading to Port Qasim in Pakistan with an estimated arrival date of 31 July.

The previous LNG tanker to exit was the Al-Hamra, which left on 11 July carrying a cargo loaded at the United Arab Emirates' Das Island. The Al-Areesh departure is the first since the Al-Rekayyat was struck in early July. Separately, the ADNOC Gas-controlled Mraweh tanker, last detected outside the strait in ballast on 24 July, reappeared inside the strait on Thursday.

Twelve commodity ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday 29 July, six entering and six exiting, up from the previous two days. At the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Kpler counted 19 transits for the same day while LSEG put the number at 26.