Shadow fleet dominates Hormuz crossings as Iran ramps up bypass loadings
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12 March 2026 Lloyd's List
SHADOW fleet* vessels are dominating tanker and gas carrier transits through the Strait of Hormuz as compliant tonnage — aside from several Dynacom tankers and less than a handful others — largely avoids the besieged waterway.
About half of all tanker and gas carrier over 10,000 dwt that have transited the Strait of Hormuz between March 1-8 were part of so-called shadow fleet, according to Lloyd’s List analysis, which included suspected dark transits.
Collecting transit data has become increasingly challenging as more vessels sail through the strait with their Automatic Identification System switched off, and amid widespread GNSS interference in the region.
Meanwhile, Iran has also been utilising a rarely used terminal south of Hormuz to load vessels.
A very large crude carrier was seen loading at the Jask terminal near Kooh Mobarak last week, which marked only the fifth time in as many years that a ship has loaded there, according to TankersTrackers.com co-founder Samir Madani.
The previous time a vessel loaded there was a suezmax in December, Madani told Lloyd’s List.
Part of the reason for the terminal’s low usage may be the long time it takes vessels to load.
“Nothing happens quickly there,” said Madani.
“Last time a VLCC loaded there, it took about 10 days.”
For comparison, a VLCC takes about one or two days to load in Kharg Island, Iran’s main crude export terminal.
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