Kharg Island Shows Deepening Export Disruption
Kharg Island loading terminals were observed fully empty for the first time since April 18, despite approximately 20 staged dark tankers nearby. No confirmed crude departures from Kharg have been observed since May 7, reinforcing assessments of sustained export disruption.
The Strait of Hormuz operating environment remained heavily constrained between May 11 and May 13 as Iranian export infrastructure continued operating below normal capacity, dark tanker staging expanded across protected Iranian waters, and IRGC-linked maritime activity intensified throughout the corridor. Kharg Island showed its clearest signs yet of sustained export disruption, with all loading terminals observed empty despite roughly 20 dark tankers remaining staged nearby.
Operational Overview
The Strait of Hormuz operating environment remained heavily constrained between May 11 and May 13 as Iranian export infrastructure continued operating below normal capacity, dark tanker staging expanded across protected Iranian waters, and IRGC-linked maritime activity intensified throughout the corridor. Kharg Island showed its clearest signs yet of sustained export disruption. For the first time since April 18, all loading terminals were observed empty despite roughly 20 dark tankers remaining staged nearby with an estimated carrying capacity exceeding 25 million barrels. No confirmed crude departures have been observed from Kharg since May 7, while imagery also identified tug and repair activity near the island’s western infrastructure, reinforcing assessments that Iran is attempting to restore damaged loading capacity while holding export tonnage in reserve.
At the same time, large concentrations of dark VLCCs, Suezmaxes, and product tankers remained stationary near Larak, Qeshm, eastern Hormuz, and Chabahar. Persistent ship-to-ship transfer activity, prolonged dark anchorage behavior, bunkering operations, and EMCON conditions reinforced indications that Iran is increasingly managing maritime flows through a layered staging and control architecture rather than normal commercial transit patterns.
Commercial Movement
Commercial movement through Hormuz continued, but under increasingly degraded visibility conditions. Limited outbound flows persisted under both AIS-transmitting and dark conditions, while RF collections repeatedly showed little to no detectable emissions activity in key commercial corridors. Taken together, the developments indicate that significant portions of the Strait are increasingly functioning as controlled maritime operating zones shaped by covert staging, surveillance, selective transit management, and constrained export activity.
EO and SAR imagery collected between May 11 and May 13 showed no active tanker loading operations at Kharg Island for a third consecutive day. On May 11, all loading terminals were observed empty of tankers for the first time since April 18. Despite the absence of vessels at berth, Windward identified approximately 19 staged tankers in the eastern waiting area near Kharg, including 10 VLCCs, four Aframax tankers, and five MR tankers. The combined estimated carrying capacity exceeded approximately 25 million barrels.
Vessels Mentioned
- YUAN HUA HU (IMO: 9723588)
- XIANG JIANG KOU (IMO: 9985394)
- TANIA STAR (IMO: 9134165)
Original Article: Kharg Export Disruption Deepens as Iran Expands Control — Windward