Four tankers turn back from Strait of Hormuz after attacks

At least four commercial tankers turned back from the Strait of Hormuz this week after attacks on vessels prompted a severe security alert, disrupting traffic in one of the world's most critical energy shipping lanes. The diversions occurred after a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker were damaged near the strait on Tuesday, July 7, following reports that Iran fired missiles at ships in the waterway.

In response, maritime authorities raised the threat level for vessels transiting the strait to severe. Ship-tracking data from analytics firms showed three QatarEnergy-operated LNG carriers, the Al Ghariya, Duhail, and Al Ruwais, changed course late on Tuesday while heading toward Qatar's Ras Laffan export terminal to load cargo. The Indian-flagged crude oil tanker Lila Vadinar, carrying approximately two million barrels of Kuwaiti crude, made a U-turn off the coast of Oman on Wednesday before entering the strait.

Despite the heightened risk and some diversions, cargo movements have continued through the waterway. Since late February, when regional tensions escalated, at least 16 LNG cargoes have departed Qatar's Ras Laffan terminal and another...