Two supertankers and a liquefied natural gas carrier exited the Strait of Hormuz with their AIS transponders switched off before heading toward India and China, a tracking gap that analysts say has become a routine tactic for vessels seeking to obscure the origin of Iranian or sanctioned cargo. The practice complicates enforcement efforts already strained by a shadow fleet that now tops 1,300 vessels globally.
The disappearances add to a tense picture around the strait, through which roughly a fifth of global oil consumption transits, as Gulf shipowners and insurers watch for signs of wider disruption. Tracking gaps of this kind typically last from several hours to multiple days, with vessels re-appearing on AIS well outside the Gulf, making it difficult for regulators to verify cargo origin or reroute compliance in real time.
Source: TradeWinds — https://services.tradewindsnews.com/latest
Tags: shadow fleet, Strait of Hormuz, Middle East
