APPEC: Tankers transit Hormuz in the dark as oil flows persist
Tankers transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz are increasingly disabling automatic identification system signals, masking vessel identities and deploying anti-drone defenses, with flows through the waterway estimated across a wide range, panelists said Sept. 10 at APPEC 2026. Max Tay, Repsol’s head of heavy products in Asia, said the AIS blackout had turned Hormuz ...
APPEC 2026 panelists discussed the increasing use of anti-drone defenses and disabling automatic identification system (AIS) signals among tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This has turned the waterway into a "mysterious black box," preventing traders and analysts from accurately tracking vessel movements. Estimates of oil volumes transiting the strait ranged from 6 million barrels/day to 10 million b/d, potentially leading to significant market and price expectations.
Despite the disruption, shipping continued to transport oil without causing severe shortages, recessionary shock, or oil prices of $200-$300/b, according to Emarat Maritime Managing Director Rishi Nyati.
Brief written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
