Key Points
- 01UAE used covert tanker shuttle runs to move crude through Hormuz during wartime disruption
- 02Supertankers traveled “dark,” with transponders off and frequent night operations
- 03Ship‑to‑ship transfers outside the strait enabled continuous crude exports
- 04By an interim US–Iran peace deal, UAE flows neared pre‑war levels
Covert shuttle runs sustain UAE oil exports
Just weeks into a wartime disruption in the Persian Gulf, a major regional oil producer began moving crude out of the Strait of Hormuz through a covert shuttle system. The United Arab Emirates organized voyages that allowed its crude exports to continue despite the heightened security and operational risks in the key waterway.
The strategy relied on deploying supertankers to carry crude through Hormuz and then quickly return for additional loads. Instead of straightforward point‑to‑point voyages, these tankers shuttled between UAE loading points and transfer zones outside the strait.
Use of “dark” voyages and nighttime operations
A defining feature of the operation was the use of “dark” voyages, in which ships sailed with their automatic identification system transponders switched off. This reduced the visibility of their movements on standard vessel‑tracking systems.
The tankers also frequently operated under cover of literal darkness, timing parts of their routes and transfers for night. This combination of transponder silence and nighttime activity echoed practices more commonly associated with sanctioned exporters seeking to obscure trade flows.
Ship‑to‑ship transfers outside the Strait of Hormuz
Once outside the Strait of Hormuz, the shuttle tankers offloaded their cargo into other vessels waiting in designated areas. These ship‑to‑ship transfers allowed the crude to be redistributed onto tankers better positioned for onward journeys to buyers.
After completing the transfers, the shuttle tankers returned through the strait to collect new cargoes. This loop created a high‑frequency flow of crude, effectively separating the risky chokepoint transit from the longer‑haul export legs handled by receiving tankers.
Export volumes and commercial gains
The shuttle system expanded rapidly as the war progressed. By the time the United States and Iran signed an interim peace deal, the United Arab Emirates was already approaching its pre‑war rate of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
A supertanker owner at the center of these shuttle runs is described as making significant profits from the trade. The concentration of voyages through a relatively small number of large vessels magnified earnings for the operator able to manage the risks and logistics of repeated Hormuz transits.
Strategic implications for Gulf oil logistics
The experience highlights how Gulf producers can adapt export logistics when traditional routes are threatened by conflict. By segmenting voyages into shuttle transits and offshore transfers, the UAE maintained substantial crude flows without relying solely on standard, easily tracked routes.
These methods show that techniques often linked to sanctioned states, such as dark voyages and complex ship‑to‑ship chains, can also be used by established producers during periods of acute geopolitical stress to preserve market access and revenue.
Key Takeaways
- 01The UAE sustained near pre‑war crude flows through Hormuz by redesigning its logistics into high‑frequency shuttle runs with offshore transfers.
- 02Dark voyages and nighttime operations, typically associated with opaque trade, became tools for a mainstream producer facing wartime disruption.
- 03Concentrating shuttle activity in supertankers generated notable commercial gains for the operator willing to repeatedly transit a risky chokepoint.