Tracking the shadow fleet: How Iran evaded the US naval blockade in Hormuz
Summary
A secret group of ships managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, despite a US naval blockade on Iranian ports. These ships used tricks like false flags and turning off their tracking signals to avoid detection while continuing their journeys.Key Facts
- On March 11, the Thai cargo ship Mayuree Naree was hit by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a fire and trapping sailors onboard.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passageway for about one-fifth of the world’s oil trade.
- After tensions rose from a US-Israeli conflict with Iran, the US imposed a full naval blockade on Iranian ports on April 13.
- Despite the blockade, 25 ships crossed the strait from April 13 to 15, using tactics to avoid being stopped.
- Al Jazeera tracked 202 voyages by 185 vessels between March 1 and April 15 and found many had ties to Iran, with 61 on international sanction lists.
- Some ships disabled or jammed their Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking to hide where they were going.
- The fleet used fake flags and shell companies to disguise ownership and evade sanctions.
- Smaller vessels without official identification numbers could move freely along the coast, helping to bypass the blockade.
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