Misbar Tracks LNG Tanker Transit Through the Strait of Hormuz

Marine traffic data from MarineTraffic shows that the LNG tanker MUBARAZ transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such vessel documented by Misbar since the war on Iran began on February 28.

In this report, Misbar's team traces the tanker’s route, analyzes its navigation data, and highlights key details about its background and movements across the region.

MUBARAZ LNG Tanker

The tanker MUBARAZ carries the IMO number 9074626 and sails under the Liberian flag. Navigation data shows it departed a terminal on Das Island in the United Arab Emirates in March before transiting the Strait of Hormuz and continuing into the Indian Ocean.

The latest tracking data places the vessel in the Lakshadweep Sea, near the Sri Lankan coast, after passing through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

Tracking data also indicates the tanker turned off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) while passing through the Strait of Hormuz before reappearing later off the Indian coast.

The practice comes amid heightened regional tensions, as some vessels disable tracking signals when transiting high-risk areas to reduce the likelihood of detection or interception.

Maritime records show MUBARAZ previously sailed under the flag of Burkina Faso before switching to Liberia in July 2019. The vessel has retained the same name since entering service, with no recorded changes.

Maritime Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz

The transit comes amid rising tensions over maritime navigation in the region, particularly after the U.S. military announced on April 13 restrictions on shipping linked to Iran, covering vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports in waters near its borders.

U.S. naval activity has extended beyond the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman into the Indian Ocean, where a sanctioned oil tanker was intercepted.

According to Reuters, between 125 and 140 vessels typically crossed the Strait of Hormuz daily before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. On April 26, however, only seven ships passed through the strait, according to ship-tracking data from Kpler and satellite analysis from SynMax. None were carrying oil bound for global markets.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on April 22 that it had seized two cargo vessels and escorted them into Iranian waters. In a post on X, it identified the ships as MSC-FRANCESCA, which it described as Israeli-owned, and EPAMINONDAS.

At the time, Misbar’s team monitored maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz to track the vessels. It found that both had departed the Arabian Gulf off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and attempted to transit the strait via a route different from Iran’s designated outbound passage, south of Qeshm Island.

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