The US military oversees dozens of ship-to-ship (ship-to-ship), in , with the goal of maintaining the flow of . The operation uses aerial and marine drones, as well as helicopters, which guide convoys to waiting tankers.
The operation, which is developing on the fringes of the Straits of Hormuz, uses a technique of “shuttling” (consecutive routes), which for years was applied by Iran itself, to circumvent sanctions. According to 11 sources familiar with the business, two specific locations where the transfers are taking place have been identified:
- One off the coast of Fujairah (United Arab Emirates).
- The second off the port of Sohar, Oman.
The operation began in early May and has involved at least 92 ships, according to shipping data and satellite images reviewed by Reuters. As recently as June 11, 17 pairs of vessels were seen making simultaneous oil transfers at these two locations.
The diplomatic thriller with the Apache helicopter
One was also involved in the mission, which was shot down by Iran on June 9, triggering retaliatory bombing by the US. On the day of the downing, satellite images showed six pairs of tankers clustered in a small area off the port of Sohar.
Asked about this, a US defense official said that no Central Command (CENTCOM) force is involved in offshore oil transport operations. The helicopter crew was rescued by a drone-boat, while the White House referred questions to CENTCOM. The Iranian government did not respond to requests for comment.
Tensions in the region remain high as Iran, reacting to the US-Israeli war, effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil consumption passes, causing the largest disruption of energy supplies in history.
Ghost routes and lights out
US transportation businesses are fully controlled by the US military, according to market sources. The process follows a strict and dangerous protocol:
- Meeting Point: Tankers sail to a specific point before reaching the Straits.
- Safety distances: They depart gradually, maintaining a distance of 3,000 to 4,000 meters from each other.
- Blackout: Transponders are disabled and ship’s lights are off.
- Transshipment: Once beyond Iran’s zone of control, tankers approach receiving vessels (VLCCs). The transfer of oil takes from 24 to 40 hours.
“As the old rules break down, it is ironic that the United States is now copying the playbook of China, Russia, North Korea, and even Iran, whose so-called ‘dark fleets’ pioneered these techniques,” commented Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations.
The receiving side of the business is dominated by international tanker companies. One of them is the Greek Dynacom Tankers Management.
The company’s founder, Giorgos Prokopiou, speaking recently at the Capital Link shipping conference in Athens, made clear his company’s efforts to find creative ways to transport oil:
“Freedom of navigation is fundamental and no one can impose tolls or other burdens. We are here to serve and Greece has a tradition of breaking blockades since ancient times. I don’t want to go into more details, but I think the hints are enough for you to understand what I mean.”
