Shadow fleet dominates Hormuz crossings as Iran ramps up bypass loadings
SHADOW fleet* vessels are dominating tanker and gas carrier transits through the Strait of Hormuz as compliant tonnage — aside from several Dynacom tankers and less than a handful others — largely avoids the besieged waterway.
About half of all tanker and gas carrier over 10,000 dwt that have transited the Strait of Hormuz between March 1-8 were part of so-called shadow fleet, according to Lloyd’s List analysis, which included suspected dark transits.
Collecting transit data has become increasingly challenging as more vessels sail through the strait with their Automatic Identification System switched off, and amid widespread GNSS interference in the region.
Meanwhile, Iran has also been utilising a rarely used terminal south of Hormuz to load vessels.
A very large crude carrier was seen loading at the Jask terminal near Kooh Mobarak last week, which marked only the fifth time in as many years that a ship has loaded there, according to TankersTrackers.com co-founder Samir Madani.
The previous time a vessel loaded there was a suezmax in December, Madani told Lloyd’s List.
Part of the reason for the terminal’s low usage may be the long time it takes vessels to load.
“Nothing happens quickly there,” said Madani.
“Last time a VLCC loaded there, it took about 10 days.”
For comparison, a VLCC takes about one or two days to load in Kharg Island, Iran’s main crude export terminal.
‘Show some guts’
Transits through the Strait Hormuz have plummeted after the US and Israel launched strike on Iran on February 28 and the Islamic Republic responding with missile and drone barrages across the Middle East, with ports and vessels very much in the crosshairs.
The gamble by shadow fleet vessels to transit the strait may stem from an assessment they are less likely to be targeted by Iran given that they serve its energy exports.
However, at least two shadow fleet tankers have been struck so far since the war began.
With the notable exception of Greek operators Dynacom, most mainstream shipowners continue to view transits through the Strait of Hormuz as too risky. At least three tankers not affiliated with Dynacom have also transited the strait since March 1, but all three were west of Hormuz when the conflict began.
Dynacom’s Shenlong (IMO: 9379210) suezmax transited around March 8 carrying Saudi Arabian crude loaded at the port of Ras Tanura and is listing its destination as the Indian port of Mumbai.
US President Donald Trump has reportedly urged other shipowners to follow Dynacom and “show some guts” by transiting the strait.
“These ships should go through the Strait of Hormuz and show some guts,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. “There’s nothing to be afraid of… they [Iran] have no Navy, we sunk all their ships.”
His comments prompted a barrage of largely off the record derision of multiple shipowners contacted by Lloyd’s List who each pointed out the current critical threat levels associated with transits.
The latest advisory issued by the Joint Maritime Information Center, which collates naval intelligence, stated on Monday that “the regional maritime threat environment remains CRITICAL, indicating that attacks against commercial shipping remain likely and operating conditions remain highly hazardous”.
JMIC stressed that while no attacks have been reported during the past 48 hours, attacks throughout the region persist, and the absence of strikes “should be interpreted as a temporary lull rather than a change in adversary intent”.
While shipowners await further details of US naval escorts, first raised as a possibility by Trump last week, European leaders have also been discussing the possibility of European Union-backed escorts.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that he was working on the launch of a joint maritime mission to escort ships in an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the initial phase of the war has calmed down.
“We are currently setting up a purely defensive, purely support mission, which must be prepared with European and non-European states.” Macron told reporters from the Paphos airbase in Cyprus. Macron said the idea is to “gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz” after the “hottest” phase of the conflict.
He said the project was being prepared “with our partners” but did not specify which countries were involved.
In a separate statement joint statement issued by EU President António Costa and EU Commission President von der Leyen also expressed their openness “to further tailor and enhance” existing EU naval operations Aspides and Atalanta “to better respond to the situation” in the Middle East.
The European Commission has not responded to questions regarding the details of what operations are being considered.
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