International reports indicate that the escalating military confrontations between the United States and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz are causing a continued deterioration in the security situation of this critical global energy transport route. The latest vessel tracking data reveals that several liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers have recently transited out of the Strait of Hormuz using a "covert navigation" method by switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, aiming to avoid the security risks posed by the geopolitical conflict.
Military exchanges and airstrikes between US and Iranian forces continued for a second consecutive day in the region on Thursday. The US Department of Defense and related sources stated that US forces fired upon a vessel carrying Iranian oil and conducted strikes on multiple targets within Iran. US President Donald Trump subsequently issued a statement emphasizing that Washington is prepared to launch further military strikes against Tehran unless Iran agrees to sign a peace agreement.
Influenced by the intensifying US-Iran military standoff, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz faces severe security threats. The latest shipping data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and commodity data analytics firm Kpler shows that at least three large LNG carriers were previously "unaccounted for" within the Persian Gulf, only reappearing on vessel tracking systems outside the Middle East region on June 10. Analysis suggests these vessels employed the covert tactic of disabling their transponders while passing through the Strait, making their exact transit times impossible to monitor in real-time.
The shipping data indicates these covertly navigating tankers are transporting bulk energy supplies to Asian markets:
The Lubreta and the Rashida: Both tankers, controlled by QatarEnergy, completed loading at Ras Laffan port on May 22 and February 27, respectively. After switching off their transponders in waters west of the Strait, they came back online on June 10. The Lubreta is currently en route to Pakistan, while the Rashida is approaching Southeast Asian waters.
The Marigold: Managed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), this tanker was located east of the Strait in ballast on May 1. After completing loading at Das Island on May 25, it turned off its signal, similarly reappearing on June 10, with its course set for India.
To date, neither ADNOC nor QatarEnergy has commented on these shipping movements.
Industry statistics show that since the full-scale outbreak of US-Iran geopolitical conflict in late February, which led to substantial obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz, major global energy suppliers have been struggling to maintain exports through various channels. Including the Lubreta, Rashida, and Marigold, only a total of 12 LNG cargo shipments have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz to global markets to date, a number that has significantly shrunk compared to pre-conflict levels.
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