US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Why Shadow Tankers Are the only Ships Still Moving Through the Strait of Hormuz
Shadow fleet tankers, comprising 62% of recent transits, bypass sanctions and tracking systems as mainstream shipping halts amid conflict-driven threats and attacks.
- Since Feb. 28, 2026, shadow-fleet tankers dominate crossings of the Strait of Hormuz, as oil tanker traffic through the waterway has collapsed by more than 90%, Lloyd's List Intelligence reported.
- Because compliance became ruinously expensive, some states built parallel shipping systems after the IRGC warned that detected US, Israel, or Europe vessels 'will certainly be struck.'
- Tracking data shows operators evade oversight by switching off radio transponders, reflagging ships, changing IMO numbers, and using shell company registrations, with about 1,100 dark fleet vessels globally, according to maritime intelligence.
- As of March 6, more than 400 tankers were stranded, with Maersk and MSC suspending operations and the IMO reporting ten attacks near the Strait since March 3.
- A surge in GPS jamming has left ship locations jammed and vessels rerouting in the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting the nearly 30,000 annual transits, Richard Meade of Lloyd's List Intelligence stated.
Insights by Ground AI
18 Articles
18 Articles
Some ships are still sailing through the Strait between the Arabian Peninsula and the Iranian coasts. But the passage is slowly becoming unpredictable.
Sky News UKReposted by 
Great Yorkshire Radio
Great Yorkshire RadioDark ships and shadow fleets – what is crossing 'closed' Strait of Hormuz?
Using tracking data, maritime intelligence and verified videos, Sky News' Data & Forensics team has identified the ships still transiting the Strait of Hormuz as Iran tightens its grip on the strategic waterway.
·United Kingdom
Read Full Article
Electronic jamming in the Strait of Hormuz is creating unusual clusters of ships, affecting tracking and navigation. This makes it nearly impossible to determine the ships' true location. According to experts, the security situation for ships has also become complicated, and the war is driving up war risk premiums.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources18
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 25%
C 50%
R 25%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
