India Bound Ships Go Dark Strait Of Hormuz Crisis

Experts say ships are doing this to avoid being spotted and attacked by Iranian forces in one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous shipping lanes right now.

Data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler shows that nearly 62% of tankers and cargo vessels sailing from the Persian Gulf to India switched off their transponders while crossing the strait. Between May 1 and June 25, out of 73 ships bound for India that passed through the waterway, 45 sailed without transmitting any location or identity information.

Ships are legally required to broadcast their identity, location and destination at all times using Automatic Identification System transponders. But in high-risk zones, vessels are increasingly choosing to switch off this system entirely to avoid detection. In the shipping world, this is called “going dark.”

Ships flying the flags of countries seen as allied with the West or hostile to Iran are considered especially vulnerable to attack in the strait, the data showed.

Shipping data shows vessels are increasingly favouring a lane hugging the Omani coastline, seen as relatively safer than the Iranian-controlled corridor. This route is backed by the United States and Oman but is not recognised by Iran.

Ships using Iranian traffic lanes typically keep their transponders on, though some have also gone dark even while sailing under Iranian monitoring. Of at least 69 India-bound vessels tracked by Kpler, including ships flagged to Panama, Liberia, the UAE and the Marshall Islands, 14 used the Oman-side route. Mwanwhile, 10 ships crossed Iran-controlled lanes, showing that dark transits are happening across both corridors.

Only four India-flagged ships made the crossing during this period. Two switched off their trackers, while the remaining two continued broadcasting their details across both routes.

Since the conflict escalated in late February, Iran has repeatedly changed its transit rules and, in several cases, attacked vessels even after granting them permission to pass.

In mid-April, the India-flagged tanker Sanmar Herald was attacked near Larak Island, where Iranian forces control maritime traffic. A recorded conversation that later surfaced captured the ship’s captain saying that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy had cleared the vessel before the attack took place.

Only partially. In early May, the United States launched escorted transit operations along the Oman-side corridor, a move later recognised by both Oman and the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization. However, those escort operations were scaled back within days of launching.

Ships have continued using the route even without escorts, but the danger has not gone away. In mid-May, an India-flagged cargo vessel sank near Limah on the Omani coast following a suspected Iranian attack, a stark reminder that no route through the strait is entirely safe.

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More