LNG tankers move from Das Island as Iran opens Strait of Hormuz transit during ceasefire

Three Adnoc-linked LNG tankers have signalled movement toward the 5.8 mtpa Das Island LNG facility in the UAE, as shipping activity is seen picking up amid a ceasefire.

Kpler data show the vessels – Umm Al Ashtan, Mraweh , and Al Hamra – all in ballast and heading east, with Al Hamra being the closest to the Strait of Hormuz. Umm Al Ashtan is signalling Das Island with an expected arrival date of Apr. 28, while both Mraweh and Al Hamra are indicating Fujairah as their latest destinations today, on Apr. 17.

The movements follow comments from Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in a post on X, stating that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is fully open during the current ceasefire period, with transit continuing along coordinated routes set by the country’s Ports and Maritime Organisation.

The coordinated movement comes shortly after a spike in flaring at the Das Island LNG complex on April 15, as observed in satellite data, suggesting a potential resumption or adjustment in operations at the facility.

“Of the three tankers, Al Hamra and Mraweh appear as the most likely candidates to attempt a transit in the coming days, should the Strait of Hormuz remain open,” said Charles Costerousse, senior analyst at Kpler Insight. “This would make them the first LNG tankers to cross the strait from the Gulf of Oman. The Sohar LNG - the first LNG vessel to cross the strait since the start of the war - was still idling offshore Muscat, has not updated its AIS signal in two weeks and remains idle.”

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The eastward positioning of the tankers may indicate preparations for loading or repositioning within the region, although it remains unclear whether the vessels will lift cargoes immediately.

“If these vessels were to attempt a crossing, it is not yet sure whether they would take the ‘coordinated’ Iranian route via Larak island or the Omani one, which is hugging the Omani coastline,” Costerousse explained.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been under close scrutiny since the start of military escalation between Iran, the US and Israel on Feb. 28, as attacks and security concerns have affected energy infrastructure, such as Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG export complex. LNG vessels in particular have been stranded, with operators adopting a wait-and-see approach amid elevated risks.

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