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56 tankers covertly shipping oil via Hormuz, tracking firm says

Created at 9 Aug · 1:50 AM1 source↑ Market-relevant
IN SHORT

At least 56 tankers are conducting covert ship-to-ship transfers of oil from Gulf nations, according to tracking firm TankerTrackers.com. These vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz and operate in digital darkness to support exports from Arab nations neighboring Iran.

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Key Numbers

56tankers involved in covert oil shipments

Who's Involved

TankerTrackers.com
firm tracking oil shipments and identifying covert operations

↳ Why This Matters

These covert operations suggest efforts to circumvent potential sanctions or geopolitical pressures affecting oil exports from the region, potentially impacting global oil supply dynamics and pricing.

Key facts

  • At least 56 tankers are involved in covert oil shipments.
  • The tankers conduct ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman.
  • These operations help support oil exports from Arab nations neighboring Iran.
  • The vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz while operating in digital darkness.

A fleet of at least 56 tankers is currently operating in digital darkness to support oil exports from Arab nations neighboring Iran, according to tracking firm TankerTrackers.com. The firm stated that these vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz to conduct covert ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman. This practice helps to obscure the origin and destination of the oil, allowing for continued exports.

Frequently asked questions

A ship-to-ship (STS) transfer is a method of transferring cargo, such as oil, from one vessel to another while both are at sea, often to avoid port calls or to obscure the cargo's movement.

Operating in 'digital darkness' likely refers to disabling or manipulating Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to avoid detection and tracking, thereby concealing their activities and the oil shipments.

Arab nations neighboring Iran include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, all of which border the Persian Gulf.

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Cadence
CME Headlines
  • WTI Crude Oil futures closed near 76.90 after choppy session.
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How It Developed

A fleet of at least 56 tankers is operating in digital darkness.
The tankers are conducting covert ship-to-ship transfers of oil.
These transfers support oil exports from Arab nations neighboring Iran.
The vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz to conduct transfers in the Gulf of Oman.

Sources

T1
Fleet of 56 tankers shipping oil through Hormuz 'covertly', tracking firm saysMiddle East Eye

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