Xinhua News Agency, London, May 7 (Reporter Gao Wencheng) A report released on May 7 by Windward, a UK-based maritime analysis company, stated that the security situation in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz remains tense. A large number of commercial vessels, concerned about military conflict, electronic interference, and the risk of being targeted, have chosen to turn off their Automatic Identification Systems and enter a “dark shipping” state.
The report stated that between April 19 and May 3, “dark ship” activity in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters surged by nearly 600%. On May 5, satellites identified 167 commercial-scale vessels in the strait area, of which 146 had turned off their Automatic Identification Systems.
The report noted that satellite images show multiple vessels have recently transited the strait with their Automatic Identification Systems turned off. On May 7, satellite images obtained near Larak Island in the northern Strait of Hormuz revealed nine commercial vessels over 150 meters in length that were not transmitting Automatic Identification System signals, including very large crude carriers, container ships, and chemical tankers. These vessels were sailing both into and out of the Persian Gulf, indicating that shipping through the strait has not been interrupted but is gradually moving away from traditional visual monitoring systems.
Analysts believe that some vessels turn off their Automatic Identification Systems to avoid exposing their routes amid the current US maritime blockade of Iran and regional military confrontation; other operators, for safety reasons, seek to reduce the risk of being tracked, targeted, or even attacked.
The report also stated that satellite images obtained on May 6 showed a formation of 39 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps speedboats sailing westward in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts believe that, against the backdrop of continuously declining maritime visibility, such a large-scale coordinated action by speedboats demonstrates Iran’s control over the strait.
