Overview
- Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plunged from pre-war levels and, by May, Vortexa recorded roughly 65% of transits with AIS transponders turned off, making many ship movements untrackable.
- The tactic began with Iran-linked vessels but has spread to non-Iranian and Gulf national-energy-company tonnage so that UAE-linked ships now account for the single largest share of dark movements.
- Turning off AIS conflicts with International Maritime Organization guidance that transponders remain on unless the master reasonably believes broadcasting would threaten safety or security, creating legal and monitoring tensions at sea.
- Reduced visibility now covers crude, refined products, LPG and LNG, which hinders real-time inventory reads, complicates refinery planning, and raises the likelihood of short-term price spikes as physical supplies become harder to verify.
- Beyond market effects, the practice raises collision and rescue risks in crowded waters and shifts daily choices for seafarers, port workers and coastal states as they adapt to a lower-transparency operating environment.