Ship ‘Spoofing’ in Strait of Hormuz May Compound Confusion
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Since the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports began, maritime experts have observed an increase in "shadow" activity, with more vessels using tactics to avoid detection in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Ships are increasingly going "dark" or using false or random identification signals, a shift from the previous weeks when Iranian exports operated openly without needing to hide.
- Under international law, commercial vessels must transmit identifying information via transponders, but some ships in the region are manipulating this system to conceal their movements.
- These evasive tactics resemble methods used by Russian "shadow fleet" vessels that have altered identification numbers to evade sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict.
- Experts note that vessels linked to Iran are becoming more cautious, adopting sophisticated measures to avoid tracking similar to those perfected by Russian ships.
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