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QatarEnergy Says Tanker on Charter Hit by Missile in Qatari Waters

The strike highlights mounting risk to Gulf shipping during a period of reduced Qatari LNG output.

Overview

  • QatarEnergy reported a missile hit on the fuel oil tanker Aqua 1 in Qatar's northern territorial waters, with no crew injuries and no environmental impact.
  • The incident follows March attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan complex that cut liquefied natural gas export capacity by 17% and sliced an estimated $20 billion from annual revenue.
  • Company leaders say two of 14 LNG trains and one gas‑to‑liquids plant were damaged, sidelining about 12.8 million tonnes per year of LNG for three to five years.
  • QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on long‑term LNG deliveries to buyers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China, which could extend for up to five years.
  • Regional shipping remains unsettled, with reports of Hormuz disruptions, a crude tanker fire at Dubai anchorage with all 24 crew safe, and analyst warnings that Red Sea interruptions could hit Saudi oil flows harder.