A liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker managed by the UAE’s ADNOC Logistics & Services has crossed the Strait of Hormuz and is now positioned off India’s west coast, according to Reuters. If verified, this would mark the first loaded LNG tanker transit through the strait since the Iran war began on February 28.

The vessel, with a capacity of 136,357 cubic meters, was last seen in the Gulf on March 30 before disappearing from signal for several weeks. Its reappearance near India suggests it successfully completed the passage, according to data from ICIS LNG Edge, Marine Traffic and LSEG.

Analysts cautioned that Gulf shipping has been using tactics such as stopping transmitting their ​locations or transmitting false identification numbers to avoid being targeted or detained.

“We have not yet heard official confirmation of the position. There are ‌occasional cases ⁠of bad signal data, or of ships spoofing positions or even using another ship’s identity (MMSI) number, but the indicated position does not show obvious signs of this,” said Alex Froley, senior LNG analyst at ICIS, a ​data intelligence firm.

“If ​the tanker has ⁠crossed, it would be a hopeful sign for the gas market, but only a very early one. One tanker ​crossing would not necessarily guarantee that more could follow, as ​the ⁠situation has been changing rapidly,” Froley added.

Reuters also reported that earlier attempts by Qatari LNG carriers to cross the strait in April were unsuccessful, while only one empty Omani LNG tanker managed to complete the transit.