India-bound ships increasingly go dark in the Strait of Hormuz amid attack fears

Maritime data shows a growing share of vessels sailing from the Persian Gulf to India are switching off their tracking systems as they pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The pattern has emerged in one of the world's busiest and most sensitive shipping lanes, where commercial traffic moves through waters close to Iran and Oman. The practice, known as "going dark," means ships stop broadcasting their identity, location and destination through Automatic Identification System transponders.

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According to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler, nearly 62% of tankers and cargo vessels on this route switched off their transponders while crossing the strait. Between 1 May and 25 June, 45 of 73 India-bound ships passed without transmitting location or identity information. The data also showed that only four India-flagged ships crossed during the period, with two switching off their trackers and two continuing to broadcast their details.

The figures point to a wider shift in how shipping companies are managing risk in the waterway. Ships flying flags seen as allied with Western states or hostile to Iran are considered especially vulnerable to attack, according to the data. Vessels are also increasingly favouring a route along the Omani coastline, which is viewed as relatively safer than the Iranian-controlled corridor.

Of at least 69 India-bound vessels tracked by Kpler, 14 used the Oman-side route and 10 crossed Iran-controlled lanes. The developments matter because the Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global trade and energy shipments. Any disruption there can affect freight costs, delivery schedules and market confidence well beyond the immediate region.

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The route is also politically sensitive because it sits between Iranian-controlled waters and the Omani coastline, with the United States and Oman backing the safer lane that Iran does not recognise. The data comes after months of heightened tension in the area. Since the conflict escalated in late February, Iran has repeatedly changed transit rules and, in some 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. That incident has added to concern among ship operators moving through the strait. What remains unclear is how long the current pattern of dark transits will continue and whether more vessels will shift to the Omani route.

It is also not clear whether the increased use of transponder shutdowns will reduce the risk of attack or create new safety and monitoring problems for maritime authorities. The next developments to watch are any further changes to transit rules, new incidents involving commercial ships, and whether shipping companies alter routes again in response to the threat environment.

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