Satellite Data Detects Oil Tankers at Iran’s Kharg Island
Satellite images captured by the Sentinel-1 satellite show that all oil berths on the island were fully occupied on Wednesday, July 8. According to Sentinel-2 imagery from Tuesday, July 7, two giant Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) were spotted at the port’s eastern berth (T-Harbour). The first tanker was positioned on the northern side of the berth, measuring 340 meters long and 63 meters wide, while the second was docked directly behind it on the southern side, measuring 330 meters long and 67 meters wide.
At the western berth (Azarpaad Harbour), the imagery confirmed the presence of a third giant tanker, measuring 300 meters long and 64 meters wide, with the vessel appearing to be fully loaded. This sudden increase in oil-loading activity at Kharg Island suggests that Iran may be preparing for increased oil exports amid recent U.S. decisions.
Tankers Disable Tracking Systems to Evade Detection
A comparison of the three tankers’ measurements from satellite imagery with port vessel movement records on the MarineTraffic platform revealed a clear discrepancy. The publicly available records did not list any of the three tankers, showing only the movements of small local service boats and tugboats. The discrepancy may suggest that the docked tankers disabled their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders after entering Iranian waters to conceal their identities and nationalities and avoid direct detection.
U.S. Oil Restrictions and Rising Maritime Tensions
The intensified oil activity at Kharg Island follows a decision by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to bar any new transactions involving Iranian oil starting July 7. The decision revokes a temporary license issued on June 21 that allowed international companies to produce and supply Iranian oil for 60 days, until its expiration in August.
The new U.S. restrictions coincide with worsening security conditions in nearby waterways. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that three oil tankers were targeted while passing through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours, resulting in minor damage. U.S. media reports also said Iranian forces attacked two commercial vessels in the strait, causing material damage, as security tensions in the region have continued since late February.
The development occurred just two days after the port was completely empty, suggesting a rapid increase in oil-loading activity amid recent U.S. decisions.
Original Article: Misbar Monitors Three Oil Tankers Docking at Kharg Island Oil Terminals Amid U.S. Sanctions — Misbar