Iran-Linked Tankers Cross Hormuz as Other Shipping Halts

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained almost completely halted for the sixth consecutive day, with only tankers linked to Iran reported to have crossed the passage.

According to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, one Iranian-linked crude oil supertanker exited the Gulf during the last 24 hours, while a liquefied petroleum gas carrier entered the region. Both vessels are currently subject to United States sanctions.

The disruption follows a series of missile and drone attacks targeting commercial shipping, which have effectively paralyzed movement through one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

The inability of tankers to enter or exit the Gulf has caused storage tanks across the region to reach near capacity levels, forcing several refineries to reduce operating rates.

Energy producers in Iraq have reportedly cut output, while similar measures were observed in Kuwait. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia redirected part of its oil exports toward Red Sea shipping routes to mitigate the impact of the blockade-like conditions.

Tracking data indicated that only about nine empty crude supertankers were inside the Gulf by Friday, highlighting the sharp decline in available shipping movement.

Widespread signal disruption has further complicated monitoring of maritime traffic.

Ships in the region have reportedly turned off or manipulated their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters, making real-time location tracking difficult.

In some cases, vessel positions may remain unknown for several days until satellite imagery reveals their movements.

Experts noted that AIS signals are sometimes deactivated once ships move far enough away from the Strait of Hormuz, allowing tankers to sail without broadcasting their exact location.

Tracking analysts said AIS signals across a broad geographic zone, including the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea, are being monitored to determine whether vessels have exited or entered the Gulf.

Investigators also verify signal histories to distinguish between real vessel movement and potential electronic spoofing, a tactic that can falsify a ship’s apparent location.

Some Iranian-linked tankers have been observed sailing without AIS transmission until reaching distant shipping lanes such as the Malacca Strait after roughly ten days at sea.

Other commercial vessels appear to be following similar practices, raising concerns that several tanker movements may remain undetected for extended periods.