Japanese LNG tanker navigates Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions

A Japanese liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, the vessel’s joint owner, confirmed.

The Panama-flagged ship, SOHAR LNG, had its crew reported safe, according to a spokesperson for Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, who declined to provide details on the timing of the passage or whether any negotiations were involved, The Japan Times reports.

Earlier on March 27, Japan’s Asahi newspaper reported that the SOHAR LNG was the first Japanese vessel to exit the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran.

The passage marks a significant development for maritime trade in the region, as the Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments.

By Vafa Guliyeva