‘Zombie’ tankers take Tehran Toll Booth route as more vessels make detour
TRAFFIC through the Strait of Hormuz is increasingly being diverted into Iranian territorial waters in what has been dubbed the “Tehran Toll Booth”, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is understood to be verifying vessel details and, in some cases, extolling a passage fee.
More than 20 vessels of over 10,000 dwt have thus far made the detour, which goes between Iran’s Qeshm and Larak Islands.
Among them were two “zombie” tankers that transited while assuming the identity of dead vessels.
At least two vessels transiting through the strait are understood to have paid in exchange for safe passage, with one fee reported to have been around $2m.
While the Strait of Hormuz remains dramatically reduced as a result of the conflict, which has seen more than 20 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels and offshore infrastructure since February 28, the pace of vessel transits across the strait picked up over the weekend.
Analysis of Lloyd’s List Intelligence data reveals that at least 16 vessels have transited the strait since Friday. Thirteen vessels headed east out of the Middle East Gulf, while three entered westbound.
Twelve were tracked via Automatic Identification System data sailing through the new route that transits Iranian territorial waters; three either did not have enough AIS data to assess their route or transit date with confidence, while a fourth, an Iran-flagged bulker, transited the strait but stopped near Larak Island.
Increasing use of the new route appears to have been bolstered by diplomatic agreements made between Iran and other states.
Indian LPG shortage
On Monday, two India-flagged very large gas carriers transited, signalling their Indian ownership via their AIS signal — a trend that is increasingly prevalent among Indian and some China affiliated vessels.
India’s Ministry of Shipping said the two ships, carrying over 92,600 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, had transited and are scheduled to reach ports in the country between March 26 and 28.
Shortages of LPG in India, where the gas is primarily used for cooking has become a hot political issue, forcing the government to engage in talks with Tehran to secure cargoes.
The status of diplomatic negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz security remained unclear on Monday.
In an early social media post US President Donald Trump announced that he was delaying his threat to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants after “very good and productive” conversations with Tehran to end the war.
However, Iran’s parliament speaker subsequently denied that talks had taken place with the US, describing the statement as “fake news” used to “manipulate” the oil markets.
Iran Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi, meanwhile, repeated claims that the Strait of Hormuz was not closed.
“The ships are being stopped because insurance companies fear a ‘war of choice’ that you, not Iran, have started,” he said via his Telegram channel.
“Freedom of navigation is not possible without freedom of trade. Have both or expect neither,” Araqchi added.
Despite the current risk to commercial shipping remaining “critical”, according to the latest naval assessment, efforts are now underway to establish an international security coalition to support shipping once major operations have ended.
Trump said on Saturday that “the Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!”.
The statement catalysed pre-existing talks involving European states who had been liaising directly with industry representatives over potential security arrangements for shipping.
The prospect of an official European Union force remains unlikely. EU insiders have told Lloyd’s List that there is no appetite at this stage to extend the scope of the EU’s existing Aspides mission.
A joint UK-France coordinated mission, however, is understood to be under negotiation.
The mission would operate entirely independently from any US missions and will likely involve some form of “overwatch” force that would be able to interdict missiles and boat attacks, but without warships entering the MEG.
While the details are still being negotiated and may involve other non-US naval support, the mandate is only likely to get approved once major operations have ended.
Zombie identities being used during detour
The two zombie identities used by ships transiting the strait over the weekend were that of the Japan-flagged liquefied natural gas carrier LNG Jamal (IMO: 9200316), recycled in Alang late last year, and that of Liberia-flagged aframax Nabiin (IMO: 9251585), which was broken up in Chittagong nearly five years ago.
LNG Jamal’s identity re-emerged in the early hours of March 13, purportedly sailing north in the Gulf of Oman towards the Strait of Hormuz, before disappearing again several hours after. It re-emerged again on March 20, with AIS data showing it exiting the Middle East Gulf through the Larak detour, before it disappeared again that afternoon.
It was not immediately clear which vessel assumed LNG Jamal’s identity, but a very large gas carrier was seen on satellite imagery in the vicinity.
The dates of LNG Jamal’s brief resurrection align with the dates that a US-sanctioned very large gas carrier — whose physical characteristics match those of the vessel seen in the satellite imagery near Jamal’s respawning location — was spoofing its AIS in the Gulf of Oman. However, limitations of available satellite imagery from the MEG are currently prohibitive of further analysis.
Meanwhile, the vessel impersonating the 2021-recycled Nabiin took the aframaxes’ IMO number but was indicating it was flagged with Mozambique and assumed the name Nature Heart.
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