Qatari LNG Tanker Attacked in Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Global Tensions

A Qatari tanker, Al Rekayyat, carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) was attacked on Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident marks the second case this year of an LNG vessel being targeted in a war-related attack.

The Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz caught fire in March after it was struck by Ukrainian naval drones, forcing its crew to abandon ship.

LNG is natural gas cooled to around minus 162 degrees Celsius (minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit), which makes it economical to transport by ship. Modern LNG carriers are designed with multiple layers of protection to prevent any ignition from reaching the cargo tanks.

However, if damage leads to a major LNG release and formation of a flammable gas cloud and ignition, the risk of an explosion increases. Industry experts say that as long as Al Rekayyat was not subject to any further attack, it was likely to remain in its current state and not explode.