Bulk Carrier Attacked Off Qatar; First LNG Tanker Crosses Strait of Hormuz Since War Began

A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, identified as Safesea Neha, was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Qatar on May 10, 2026, causing a small fire that was successfully extinguished with no casualties reported. This incident occurs amidst ongoing shipping attacks during the US-Iran conflict. Simultaneously, the Qatar LNG carrier Al Kharaitiyat became the first LNG vessel to traverse the Strait of Hormuz since the war commenced on February 28. The tanker utilized a new route mandated by Iran near Larak Island before heading to Karachi, Pakistan. While an uneasy ceasefire largely holds, the Strait remains effectively closed, with US forces having disabled multiple Iranian tankers and turned away over 50 ships since mid-April. The attack on the Safesea Neha marks the second hit on a vessel owned by the New Jersey-based Safesea company during this conflict, following an earlier strike on the Safesea Vishnu in March. These developments highlight the persistent risks to global maritime trade and energy supplies despite diplomatic standoffs.