Al Mayeda tanker struck by unidentified objects; all 25 crew members safe
Key Facts
Nakilat said LNG carrier Al Mayeda was struck by unidentified objects while transiting the Arabian Gulf on the evening of 30 October 2026. The company said all crew members were safe and the incident had no environmental impact. It described the vessel as safe and operational, while continuing to assess the incident’s impact. Nakilat did not specify what struck the carrier. The company’s statement also did not identify the party responsible, while saying it was monitoring the situation closely.
India’s minister for ports, shipping and waterways confirmed that all 25 crew members were safe, including 6 Indian sailors. The state-run Press Information Bureau quoted the minister as saying, "All six Indian nationals, along with all 25 crew members, are completely safe." He said the Indian government was monitoring the situation continuously. He added that it was in close contact with the ship’s management company to ensure the safety of the Indian sailors. This comes alongside Nakilat’s direct coordination with the vessel and its crew, as well as the relevant maritime security authorities in the region.
Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned the attack on the Nakilat vessel, saying it threatened the safety of maritime navigation and the security of global energy supplies. The ministry said the relevant authorities had begun an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and those responsible. Qatar said it reserved the right to take necessary measures under international law and the UN Charter to protect its property, ships and crews. The ministry warned of potential consequences for regional security and stability and the global economy. The risks it cited included the marine environment and water security in countries across the region.
Nakilat’s 2024 sustainability report shows that Al Mayeda is an LNG carrier with a cargo capacity of 266,000 cubic metres and that Nakilat owns 100% of it. The report says the vessel was built in 2009 and that its technical management is handled by NSQL. It also recorded an annual energy efficiency ratio of 6.75 for 2024. The data provide background on the carrier’s size, ownership and management. The incident statement gave no estimate of losses or the duration of the assessment, while the company said the vessel remained safe and operational.
Windward estimated that the carrier was hit by three projectiles at around 18:00 UTC, about 40 nautical miles south of Lavan Island. That estimate differs from Nakilat’s wording, which said the vessel was struck by unidentified objects without specifying their nature. On 30 October, UKMTO issued an alert about a separate incident 40 nautical miles south of Lavan Island, saying a vessel had been struck by a projectile on its port side and a fire had broken out on board. The agency said the crew was safe and no environmental impact had been reported at the time, but it did not name the vessel in its summary. UKMTO did not link that alert to Al Mayeda.
As an indicator of shipping activity, Windward said the number of visible transits through the Strait of Hormuz tracked by the automatic identification system was about 24 between 30 October and the morning of 1 November. The company compared that with 18 transits in the corresponding period between 28 and 30 October. These figures track visible transits through the system during the specified periods. Nakilat did not announce any change to the vessel’s operating status, saying instead that the incident’s impact remained under assessment. In a separate maritime incident this month, UKMTO reported on 16 October a rocket-propelled grenade attack on a tanker 78 nautical miles northeast of Jubail, saying the crew was safe and that a full assessment of the damage and environmental impact was not known at the time of the alert.
Jordan condemned the incident on 1 November, calling it a violation of international law and a threat to freedom of maritime navigation. It expressed solidarity with Qatar and support for any measures it takes to protect its security, interests and assets. Jordan’s condemnation followed Doha’s announcement that it had opened an investigation, while Nakilat had not identified the nature of the objects that struck the vessel. The findings of Qatar’s investigation and the assessment of the incident’s impact on the carrier remain among the developments to come. Nakilat said it would continue monitoring the situation and coordinating with the vessel, its crew and maritime authorities in the region.