Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz have been sending unusual nationality-related messages in an effort to avoid attacks amid ongoing tensions following the recent conflict between Israel and Iran.
According to Reuters, since the outbreak of hostilities earlier this month, ships have been broadcasting signals such as “China owned” or “Russian crude,” aiming to suggest affiliations with countries less likely to be targeted by Iran. According to maritime risk firm Windward, vessels transmitted more than a hundred such atypical messages in the Gulf and Red Sea between June 12-24.
Reduced Gulf tensions eased GPS jamming & boosted maritime traffic via Hormuz — but caution persists. 100+ unusual AIS messages (“CHINA OWNED,” “ALL MUSLIM CREW”) broadcasted as deliberate protective measures against regional threats like Iran, echoing 2023 tactics.
➡️ Analysis:… /9XfD4JkrrY
— Windward (@WindwardAI) June 25, 2025
Reduced Gulf tensions eased GPS jamming & boosted maritime traffic via Hormuz — but caution persists. 100+ unusual AIS messages (“CHINA OWNED,” “ALL MUSLIM CREW”) broadcasted as deliberate protective measures against regional threats like Iran, echoing 2023 tactics.
➡️ Analysis:… /9XfD4JkrrY
— Windward (@WindwardAI) June 25, 2025
As explained, the unusual messaging reflects shipowners’ concerns about identifying ships linked to higher-risk nationalities like the UK, U.S., and Israel. This tactic had been mostly observed in the Red Sea, associated with Houthi rebel attacks, but has now become common in the Persian Gulf.
The JMIC has warned of electronic interference affecting Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in the region, which could cause ships to go off course and increase the risk of collisions or other accidents, Reuters concludes.
