India Getting Oil Through Secret Routes via Strait of Hormuz
Even as the US-Iran conflict has led to a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas supplies are still reaching India through covert and risky methods. Tankers are reportedly switching off their tracking systems to slip through the strategic waterway undetected.
### Dark Mode Shipments
According to shipping intelligence reports, oil tankers are increasingly operating in 'dark mode' - turning off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders while passing through the Strait of Hormuz or loading cargo in the Persian Gulf. This makes real-time tracking of their location almost impossible.
Maritime intelligence firm Vortexa reports that 57% of vessels in the region were operating without transponders, a figure that rose to a record 65.2% in May.
What was once a tactic used only by sanctioned Iranian vessels has now become a common commercial practice due to war risks, operational uncertainty, and the need to move cargo safely.
### Supply to India & China
Analysts say that despite the blockade, oil shipments are still reaching major Asian buyers - India and China - through secret routes. Some reports suggest Iran is facilitating alternative corridors under its control to ensure safe passage for tankers.
Claire Jungman, Director at Vortexa, stated that turning off transponders is no longer just about evading sanctions - it has become a broader commercial strategy to navigate the dangerous situation in the Gulf.
### Why It Matters for India
India, which imports nearly 90% of its crude oil, relies heavily on supplies from the Middle East. With the Hormuz Strait - through which a large portion of global oil trade passes - under blockade, these clandestine routes have become critical for maintaining energy security.
However, this secretive movement has made it extremely difficult to accurately assess how much oil is actually reaching buyers amid the ongoing conflict.
The situation highlights the complex challenges India faces in securing energy supplies during geopolitical crises in the Middle East.
This development raises serious concerns about energy security and the increasing risks involved in global oil transportation during times of conflict.
### Dark Mode Shipments
According to shipping intelligence reports, oil tankers are increasingly operating in 'dark mode' - turning off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders while passing through the Strait of Hormuz or loading cargo in the Persian Gulf. This makes real-time tracking of their location almost impossible.
Maritime intelligence firm Vortexa reports that 57% of vessels in the region were operating without transponders, a figure that rose to a record 65.2% in May.
What was once a tactic used only by sanctioned Iranian vessels has now become a common commercial practice due to war risks, operational uncertainty, and the need to move cargo safely.
### Supply to India & China
Analysts say that despite the blockade, oil shipments are still reaching major Asian buyers - India and China - through secret routes. Some reports suggest Iran is facilitating alternative corridors under its control to ensure safe passage for tankers.
Claire Jungman, Director at Vortexa, stated that turning off transponders is no longer just about evading sanctions - it has become a broader commercial strategy to navigate the dangerous situation in the Gulf.
### Why It Matters for India
India, which imports nearly 90% of its crude oil, relies heavily on supplies from the Middle East. With the Hormuz Strait - through which a large portion of global oil trade passes - under blockade, these clandestine routes have become critical for maintaining energy security.
However, this secretive movement has made it extremely difficult to accurately assess how much oil is actually reaching buyers amid the ongoing conflict.
The situation highlights the complex challenges India faces in securing energy supplies during geopolitical crises in the Middle East.
This development raises serious concerns about energy security and the increasing risks involved in global oil transportation during times of conflict.