Qatari LNG Vessels Sight Canary Island For Bunkering

Two of Qatar’s laden LNG tankers diverted away from the Red Sea to sail to the Canary Islands for bunkering, meaning the tanker will sail via the Cape of Good Hope, according to S&P Global Commodities at Sea.

• The Al Ghariya LNG tanker was sailing southwest of the Indian Ocean and is estimated to arrive at Las Palmas, Spain's Canary Islands, on 4 February, according to CAS.
• The Al Nuaman was also estimated to arrive on 4 February for bunkering, while the third carrier, Al Huwaila, has not changed its destination from the Suez Canal, according to CAS.
• The tankers had previously paused for a few days offshore the southwest of Oman earlier this week.
• The ports in Africa, including the Canary Islands, have emerged as potential stops for ships to take bunker fuel as an increasing number of cargoes from the Persian Gulf that are destined for Europe transit via the Cape of Good Hope.
• In addition, Qatar has changed course of the Al Gattara LNG vessel to the Adriatic terminal in Italy, after it was first headed to Zeebrugge, showing the producer’s reshuffling of cargoes amid longer journey times via the Cape of Good Hope according to ICIS LNG Edge.