Second Qatari LNG tanker exits Strait of Hormuz after going dark, tracking data shows

The Singapore-flagged LNG tanker Mihzem has exited the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf of Oman after going dark, ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg shows.

The vessel is fully laden and lists Pakistan as its destination. Its passage follows that of another Qatari tanker, Al Kharaitiyat, which crossed the same waterway over the weekend.

Why do LNG tankers go dark near the Strait of Hormuz?

Tankers go dark by halting transmission of their positioning signals, a practice that has grown more common amid heightened security concerns in the region.

Vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz have adopted the tactic in response to reported disruptions linked to the ongoing Iran conflict. Going dark reduces a ship's real-time visibility to outside trackers.

What happened to the Mihzem before it exited Hormuz?

Mihzem had stopped transmitting its positioning signals before its transit through the strategic waterway.

Earlier this month, at least two tankers loading at Abu Dhabi National Oil Co.'s Das Island facility also went dark while crossing the strait. Signal blackouts in the area have become a recurring pattern across multiple operators.

How has GPS spoofing affected shipping in the region?

Maritime tracking near the Strait of Hormuz has also been disrupted by GPS spoofing and electronic interference, which distort a vessel's apparent location. These disruptions compound the difficulty of monitoring tanker movements through one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.

The combination of deliberate signal blackouts and electronic interference has made real-time tracking increasingly unreliable.

What is the status of Qatar's LNG shipments through Hormuz?

Al Kharaitiyat, the first of the two tankers, exited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend and entered the Gulf of Oman after loading cargo at Qatar's Ras Laffan export terminal earlier this month.

Mihzem's successful passage marks the second Qatari LNG tanker to clear the waterway under conditions of ongoing regional tension. Both vessels departed fully laden.