A Bermuda-flagged LNG carrier hauling Qatari cargo was hit by a suspected Iranian projectile near the Strait of Hormuz on July 31, marking the second confirmed strike on Qatari LNG shipments within a month, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.
According to Windward, UKMTO confirmed that the vessel, GASLOG SHANGHAI, a 285-metre tanker carrying Qatari LNG loaded around July 27, was struck approximately 11 nautical miles northeast of Limah, Oman, damaging its engine room. No casualties were reported, and GasLog confirmed to Windward that all crew remained safe with the vessel stable. No group had claimed responsibility as of August 2, Windward reported.
IRGC Activity Escalates in the Strait
Windward reported that Iran’s IRGC separately claimed it disabled two tankers attempting to cross the Strait’s southern corridor under U.S. air escort, forcing four additional vessels to turn back after warnings. The IRGC alleged the ships were directed by U.S. Central Command, though Windward noted CENTCOM had not confirmed the claim.
According to Windward, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, MINOAN GLORY, was forced into a real-time U-turn by the IRGC Navy, which released video of the incident. The vessel has remained AIS-dark since July 31, Windward reported.
Chinese-Linked Vessels Transit Red Sea Without Incident
While Iran tightens control over Hormuz, Windward reported a parallel pattern emerging in the Red Sea. Twenty-two Chinese-owned, operated, or flagged vessels transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and called at Saudi ports between July 20 and August 2 without a single incident, according to Windward’s analysis.
Over the same period, Windward reported that Houthi forces struck four separate Saudi tankers — ENCELIA, LAYLA, NCC MASA, and NCC GHAZAL — across three different dates. Windward noted that Chinese-linked vessels crossed the strait on or around all three attack dates, with some transiting the same day Saudi tankers were hit.
Per open-source reporting cited by Windward, China held direct talks with Houthi forces to secure vessel-specific safe passage for Chinese tankers, with both parties reportedly briefing Iran on the arrangement.
Saudi Arabia Responds With Coalition and Reroutes
Windward reported that Saudi Arabia announced a 14-country multinational maritime coalition on July 30, headquartered in Riyadh, mandated to protect the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden. Participating nations reportedly include Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, and Sudan, though the UAE and Oman were notably absent.
Separately, Windward reported that six Saudi-flagged tankers, all in ballast, are now routing via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Bab el-Mandeb corridor, with one Taiwan-to-Yanbu voyage nearly doubling in transit time from roughly 24 days to 56 days. Windward also reported that Yanbu’s King Fahd Industrial Port has sustained fully dark vessel operations continuously since July 27.
Does This Matter to You?
The developments reported by Windward point to a widening pattern of differential treatment for vessels transiting Gulf and Red Sea chokepoints depending on national affiliation. For vessel operators moving cargo through the Strait of Hormuz or Bab el-Mandeb, the reported strikes on tankers, forced course reversals, and extended dark-vessel operations at ports like Yanbu suggest elevated operational uncertainty in these corridors.
Windward’s reporting on rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope — and the associated near-doubling of transit time on at least one voyage — indicates potential knock-on effects for freight scheduling and bunkering demand along alternative routes. The reported emergence of a Chinese-Houthi understanding, if accurate, could also mean uneven risk exposure for vessels of different flag states operating in the same waters.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Windward
