State-owned tankers from several Middle Eastern oil producers are now transiting the Strait of Hormuz with their transponders switched off and running without lights, as Gulf nations seek to sustain export volumes amid ongoing tensions in the region. According to Bloomberg, as reported by ShippingWatch, the cargoes are subsequently transferred to other vessels in open waters off the coast of Oman.
Exports Continue Despite Strait Tensions
The covert routing strategy reflects the pressure Gulf producers are under to keep oil moving as geopolitical uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz persists. Bloomberg’s reporting, cited by ShippingWatch, indicates that the US Navy is providing assistance with these transit operations, though details on the nature of that support remain limited in the available source material.
The scale of the disruption to normal shipping patterns is illustrated by one notable data point from ShippingWatch: the number of large non-Iranian tankers stranded in the Gulf dropped from approximately 160 in early April to around 90 by the end of May. While that represents a meaningful improvement, a significant backlog of vessels remains.
Ship-to-Ship Transfers Off Oman
Once through the strait, the oil is transferred between ships on the high seas near Oman — a technique commonly associated with sanctions evasion in other contexts, but here apparently employed as a workaround to minimize vessel exposure during Hormuz transits. The use of darkened ships with no AIS transponder signal makes tracking these movements through conventional maritime monitoring tools difficult.
Does This Matter to You?
The combination of AIS-dark transits, ship-to-ship transfers, and a still-elevated number of stranded vessels in the Gulf points to a maritime environment where visibility, scheduling, and cargo traceability remain significantly constrained. Those involved in supply chain timing, cargo sourcing from the Gulf region, or port intake planning face ongoing uncertainty around arrival windows and vessel identification.
For anyone tracking tanker movements in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the waters off Oman, the prevalence of non-reporting vessels adds a layer of complexity to situational awareness. The reduction in stranded tankers suggests conditions are gradually improving, but the continuation of unconventional transit methods signals that normalcy has not yet returned to one of the world’s most critical oil export chokepoints.
ShippingWatch reports that Iran has also signalled intentions to tighten controls over Hormuz transits following recent exchanges with the United States, a development that may continue to shape how and when vessels move through the strait in the weeks ahead.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: ShippingWatch (reporting Bloomberg)
