Qatar Asks LNG Ships at Export Hub to Go Dark in Safety Push
The waters around the Persian Gulf, where Ras Laffan port is located, have faced major security issues during the war in the Middle East.
Source: Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2026Qatar is asking ships near its main liquefied natural gas export facility to turn off their transponders, apparently triggering a wave of tankers going dark across the Persian Gulf.
The directive came this week for vessels within Ras Laffan port, anchorages and port waters to switch off their Automatic Identification System, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be identified because of lack of authorization to speak to media. The move is a safety measure, one of the people said.