Anomalous Vessel Behaviour Exposed in Gulf Shipping
One in every 10 vessels operating in the Gulf exhibits “anomalous” behaviour on its tracking systems, according to a shipping expert. Saleem Khan, chief data and analytics officer at maritime data and technology company Pole Star Global, revealed that spoofing, electronic interference, and transponder deactivation are masking the movement of ships near the Strait of Hormuz.
Khan’s findings align with estimates of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet”, in which oil and gas tankers use deceptive practices to evade sanctions. He noted that between 75 and 100 vessels could be engaged in spoofing, a significant share of the overall irregularities observed.
The practice of disabling AIS transponders is also on the rise, with Khan warning that such action increases the risk of misidentification in a heavily militarised environment. “That is quite risky in a war zone, especially if you’re near a US naval base and you’re seen as potentially hostile or a threat,” he said.
Electronic Jamming Compounds Problem
Compounding the problem is a rise in electronic jamming linked to air defence. High-powered bursts of radio-frequency interference, particularly during missile exchanges, are increasingly disrupting AIS transmissions. The effect is not limited to shipping; Khan warned that even internet-connected appliances like toasters or refrigerators could be impacted.
Yanbu and Fujairah Pipelines: Alternative Routes
Addressing an audience of maritime industry leaders this week, Khan confirmed reports that traffic is increasing at Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, as crude is diverted along the kingdom’s East-West Pipeline. He noted that both alternatives remain limited, with the Fujairah pipeline only running at about 1.5 million barrels per day.
Without Hormuz fully open, Khan warned the consequences would quickly feed through to supply. “We will continue to see either a slowdown in production or a complete halt. Or we’ll just see vessels waiting at docks in the Persian Gulf.”
Original Article: One in 10 Gulf ships cannot be reliably tracked, analyst says — Agbi