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News Link • Oil

Oil Tankers Turning Off Transponders – 10% of Regular Volume in Dark Fleet Made Hormuz Passage

• https://www.nextbigfuture.com, by Brian Wang

Traffic is way down with normal ~150+ vessels per day has collapsed to low single digits or low teens (80-90% drop).
Tactics being used are turning off AIS during transit.
Spoofing AIS data to claim Chinese ownership in hopes Iran leaves them alone.

Greek-operated Suezmax tanker Shenlong (carrying Saudi crude) crossed recently while running dark.

Tankertrackers.com scombine public AIS data with satellite imagery and vessel-specific intel — especially strong on dark fleet tracking where ships turn off transponders (common in conflict zones).

Sanctions-compliant tankers (2 VLCCs + others) gone dark west of Hormuz, heading to China/India/Japan.
Iran loading 2 million barrels at Jask terminal south of the strait (only their 5th time in years).


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