More than 40 empty Qatari LNG carriers are currently stranded in Asian waters as Qatar's liquefied natural gas export facilities remain shut down and the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed due to the Middle East conflict.
According to an analysis of ship tracking data by media and Kpler, these vessels are anchored at multiple locations, including waters off western India, near Sri Lanka, at the northern entrance to the Strait of Malacca, and in waters east of Singapore. Data shows that none of the carriers are loaded with LNG.
Earlier in March, an attack by Iranian drones forced Qatar to halt production at the world's largest LNG export facility. This move disrupted global markets and left its large fleet of carriers without cargo. Later that same month, another attack caused damage to parts of the Ras Laffan facility.
The number of idle vessels reflects the scale of the disruption. Since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against Iran in late February, Iranian actions have effectively brought LNG shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to a near standstill. The global LNG industry has been affected, forcing some countries to reduce their usage.
Data from GIIGNL, a non-profit industry organization composed of LNG importers, shows that there are currently more than 800 LNG carriers in operation worldwide.
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