The large LNG carrier Al Mayeda, operated by Qatar Gas Transport Company Nakilat, was struck by unidentified objects on the evening of October 30, 2026, while sailing in the Arabian Gulf.

Nakilat officially confirmed the incident.

According to the company, no crew members were injured, and the vessel remained in a safe and operational condition following the incident.

There were 25 crew members on board, including six Indian nationals.

Indian authorities confirmed that all six Indian seafarers, along with the rest of the crew, are safe.

Nakilat also said that no environmental pollution or harmful release from the vessel had been reported.

The company is continuing to assess the situation and any damage sustained by the ship.

The exact nature of the damage has not yet been publicly disclosed.

It also remains unclear what exactly struck Al Mayeda.

Nakilat has not confirmed whether the objects were missiles, drones, debris or another type of projectile.

Responsibility for the incident has not been officially established.

The company said it remains in continuous contact with the vessel and its crew and is coordinating with regional maritime navigation and security authorities.

Qatari authorities have launched an investigation into the incident and the circumstances surrounding the strike.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a threat to maritime navigation safety and global energy supplies.

Doha also said it reserves the right to take necessary measures under international law to protect its vessels, crews and national interests.

The incident was also condemned by other Gulf states.

Saudi Arabia called for urgent international action to protect commercial shipping and global energy supply routes.

The United Arab Emirates said the attack posed a serious threat to the security of critical maritime corridors and could carry significant environmental risks.

Bahrain also condemned the incident and called on the United Nations Security Council to take action to prevent repeated attacks on commercial vessels and hold those responsible accountable.

Al Mayeda belongs to the Q-Max class, among the largest LNG carriers in the world.

The vessel has a cargo capacity of around 266,000 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas, is approximately 345 metres long, and was built by Samsung Heavy Industries in 2009.

Al Mayeda sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

Its gross tonnage is approximately 163,922 GT.

The vessel is owned by Nakilat and forms part of the company’s large LNG carrier fleet used to transport Qatari liquefied natural gas to international markets.

The incident involving Al Mayeda comes amid continued security tensions in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, where multiple attacks and other maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported in recent months.

The case has drawn particular attention because of the type of vessel involved: large LNG carriers are a critical part of global energy infrastructure and transport significant volumes of liquefied natural gas.

Despite being struck by unidentified objects, Al Mayeda remained operational, all 25 crew members were unharmed and no marine pollution was reported. The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.