UAE Oil Tankers Navigate Strait of Hormuz Undetected
On Thursday, reports emerged revealing that various oil tankers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) managed to transit the Strait of Hormuz without detection, employing the same strategies that Iranian and Russian “shadow fleet” ships use to sidestep sanctions.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is said to have disabled the location tracking of four tankers and conducted ship-to-ship transfers at sea, successfully transporting at least 6 million barrels of crude oil through this critical waterway.
According to the report, “Consignments were offloaded onto ships via ship-to-ship transfer (STS), with the oil then traveling to refineries in Southeast Asia or being stored in Oman, and some even heading directly to refineries in South Korea.”
Before the onset of the conflict with Iran, ADNOC’s oil shipments averaged 3.1 million barrels per day, making these covert operations just a small part of its usual output.
Additionally, ADNOC has recently confirmed two ships carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) successfully passed through Iranian waters. It appears that the UAE also uses techniques like “spoofing” and providing misleading location data from its vessels.
Interestingly, at least three empty ADNOC LNG ships reportedly ceased broadcasting their locations as they neared the Strait of Hormuz, effectively avoiding detection by tracking systems.
Bloomberg noted that “satellite images indicate the tanker is at the terminal, even though it is not transmitting its location.”
While ADNOC hasn’t commented on these developments, the UAE had previously stated that Iran targeted an ADNOC crude oil tanker with drones in the Strait, labeling the incident a “terrorist attack.”
In response to sanctions on oil transport, the shadow fleet has evolved significantly. By the end of 2025, analysts project that this shadow fleet will comprise at least 978 tankers, accounting for over 18% of the global tanker fleet.
Tracking these vessels can be quite challenging, as many utilize fraudulent documentation. Some experts even suggest that the true number of ships involved in this shadow fleet might be as high as 1,600, alongside numerous smaller coastal vessels assisting in cargo transport.
The methods used by these ships can be perilous. Disabling Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders or sending false data can create hazards for genuine vessels that depend on advanced AIS technologies.
On Thursday, Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization made a curious announcement, promising various support services, including food, fuel, and medical aid, to commercial ships stranded near the Strait of Hormuz.
This announcement, which is broadcast three times daily, suggested Iran’s commitment to “maritime security,” despite ongoing threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps against civilian vessels.
One interpretation of this move could be that Iran is signaling a suspension of U.S. military protections for ships in the strait, potentially creating a pause for ceasefire talks. Conversely, others fear it may signal a new system of payments or “tolls” for passing ships.
As noted by a correspondent for Al Jazeera, “what the Iranians are indicating is this isn’t just a temporary maritime regime. They are proposing a permanent shift in the dynamics of the strait, and they don’t intend to back away.”
