Nine-hundred Tankers Went “Dark” To Slip Through Hormuz Blockade

Around 900 tankers—almost two-thirds of outbound vessels—went “dark” in order to sneak through the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, analysts claim.

Although just a few ships are reported to have transited the Strait each day since the blockade began in April, maritime data company Kpler believes dozens more are slipping through.

Kpler puts the total at 895 so far.

At least 358 of those ships have used so-called “shadow fleet” tactics to avoid being detected.

In April, 37% of outbound tankers went “dark”—turning off navigation beacons and tracking devices, including their Automatic Identification System (AIS)—but the number shot up to 65% in May.

“That shift suggests AIS-off behaviour is becoming an accepted operating protocol, not an exceptional measure,” analysis group Vortexa warned.

“Iran-linked vessels helped establish the template before and during the early phase of the crisis. Non-sanctioned Gulf tonnage is now increasingly using similar methods — and, in volume terms, beginning to dominate them,” the group added.

At present, it’s unclear which routes through the Strait are being used by the tankers.

Iran is charging a toll of up to $2 million for guidance through the Strait to avoid drones, mines and fast-attack ships.

Ships leaving Iranian ports face the risk of being intercepted by the US Navy.

On Thursday, US Central Command said 133 ships had been intercepted so far since the blockade began.

Despite the increase in ships transiting the Strait successfully, there have been drops in the level of oil leaving the Middle East.

During the first month of the war, the average daily loss of oil was 500,000 barrels per day, but this has increased to 710,000 barrels per day in recent weeks.