Qatar has asked liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers operating near its main export hub to switch off their tracking systems as part of precautionary safety measures, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
The directive applies to vessels docking at and operating within Ras Laffan port, one of the world’s largest LNG export facilities. Ships have been instructed to turn off their automatic identification systems (AIS), which normally transmit real-time data such as location, speed and direction, the report said.
The decision is being seen as a response to heightened fears of further drone attacks in the region, particularly amid escalating security risks linked to the ongoing war in Iran.
Energy exporters across the Persian Gulf increasingly mask vessel movements amid escalating tensions linked to the ongoing conflict. Earlier reports also noted that tankers loading at Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s Das Island facility had temporarily gone dark while passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Bloomberg
