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NDTV
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Vessels Near Strait Of Hormuz Transmit Unusual Messages To Prevent Attacks
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz have been broadcasting unusual messages concerning nationality in a bid to avoid being attacked as doubts linger over the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, according to maritime risk analytics firm Windward and ship tracking data on Thursday. The signals have been used since conflict broke out between Israel and Iran early this month, which led the U.S. to strike Iranian nuclear sites. U.S. President Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire after 12 days of war but the maritime threat remains elevated, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said. "The perception among shipowners is that due to the convoluted nature of shipping it's hard to know or ascertain clearly a chain of ownership to nationalities which may be under higher threat in shipping, namely the UK, U.S. and Israel," said Ami Daniel, chief executive officer of Windward. Fifty-five vessels transmitted 101 atypical messages across the Gulf and Red Sea from June 12-24, Windward said, including "China owned" and "Russian crude", in the hope of preventing attacks because those countries are less likely to be targeted than Western ships. Commercial maritime traffic surged 30% on June 24, the day after the ceasefire, according to the JMIC. Roughly a fifth of the world's fuel and oil consumption moves through the Strait of Hormuz. Vessels typically broadcast their destinations or say "For Orders". Occasionally, vessels also transmit messages such as "Armed Guards on Board" to deter pirates or other attacks. Unusual messages were almost only seen in the Red Sea before June 12, said Windward's Daniel. The Red Sea had been the focus of a series of attacks by Houthi rebels since the Israel-Gaza war broke out. "I've never seen it in the Persian Gulf," Daniel said. Panama-flagged container ship Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan, bound for Pakistan, was broadcasting "PKKHI all Chinese" on Thursday as it crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to LSEG data. China-flagged supertanker Yuan Yang Hu was broadcasting "Chinese ship" on Thursday morning while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to China, the signal changed to "CN NBG", the Chinese Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, once the vessel had cleared the Strait. Singapore-flagged container ship Kota Cabar was signalling "Vsl no link Israel" as it sailed through the Red Sea. JMIC also warned of electronic interference in the region affecting Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). A jammed GNSS can cause ships to go off course, increasing the risk of collision with other vessels or obstacles.
Al Arabiya
10 hours ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Oil tanker rates collapse as conflict in Middle East abates
The cost of shipping Middle East crude to customers in Asia collapsed on Thursday, the latest sign of oil markets returning to normal after conflict eased in the world's top petroleum-exporting region. Charter rates slumped by 17 percent to 55.50 industry-standard Worldscale points, according to data from the Baltic Exchange in London. It works out at roughly $1.60 a barrel. 'Risk premiums have naturally faded,' said Fredrik Dybwad, an analyst at Fearnley Securities AS. 'There is ample vessel availability, and considering normal seasonality, rates should naturally find a lower level.' Shipping prices soared two weeks ago amid concern Iran might disrupt maritime traffic around Hormuz Strait, a vital waterway through which 20 percent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas must pass. After almost two weeks of fighting between Iran and Israel that began on June 13, there's since been a ceasefire, hitting oil prices and lowering the risks for ships that enter the region. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a naval liaison with commercial shipping in the region, said Thursday that no hostilities had been reported in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 48 hours and that traffic had returned to normal levels. 'A sustained period of inactivity and strengthening of the ceasefire agreement will stabilize maritime tension in the Arabian Gulf,' it said in a note. 'Now that the market has become sanguine about Iran shutting the Strait of Hormuz, ships are running fluidly again, the premium gas been removed, and rates are correcting lower meaningfully,' said Jonathan Chappell, senior managing director at Evercore ISI. The Worldscale system is designed to let owners and charterers quickly calculate the latest earnings and per-barrel costs on thousands of trade routes. Vessels on the industry's benchmark Saudi Arabia-to-China route are earning $35,281 a day, according to the Baltic Exchange. They were making almost $76,000 on Monday.
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First Post
10 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
'China owned', 'Vsl no link Israel': Vessels near Hormuz transmit unusual messages to avoid attacks amid ceasefire uncertainty
Ships transiting near the Strait of Hormuz have begun broadcasting unusual messages about their nationality in an apparent effort to avoid being targeted, as uncertainty continues to cloud the ceasefire between Iran and Israel read more An aerial view of the Iranian shores and the island of Qeshm in the strait of Hormuz, on December 10, 2023. Reuters File Ships transiting near the Strait of Hormuz have begun broadcasting unusual messages about their nationality in an apparent effort to avoid being targeted, as uncertainty continues to cloud the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, according to a Reuters report, citing maritime risk analytics firm Windward and ship tracking data on Thursday. According to the report, citing Windward, the practice began after hostilities erupted earlier this month between Iran and Israel, prompting US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Though a ceasefire was brokered by US President Donald Trump after 12 days of conflict, maritime security threats remain high in the region. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) confirmed that the overall risk to vessels in the area remains elevated despite the truce. 'The perception among shipowners is that due to the convoluted nature of shipping it's hard to know or ascertain clearly a chain of ownership to nationalities which may be under higher threat in shipping, namely the UK, US and Israel,' Reuters quoted Ami Daniel, chief executive officer of Windward, as saying. Between June 12 and 24, as many as 55 vessels transmitted 101 unusual messages while sailing through the Gulf and Red Sea, according to Reuters, citing Windward. These messages included identifiers such as 'China owned' and 'Russian crude,' in an apparent effort to deter attacks by signaling affiliation with countries perceived as less likely to be targeted than Western nations. Commercial maritime traffic surged by 30% on June 24, the day after a ceasefire was announced, reported Reuters, citing the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC). The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most vital energy corridors, with around 20% of global oil and fuel consumption passing through its narrow waters. Under normal circumstances, vessels in the region typically broadcast their destinations or use standard signals such as 'For Orders.' In high-risk areas, messages like 'Armed Guards on Board' are occasionally transmitted to deter piracy or potential attacks. However, according to Daniel from maritime analytics firm Windward, the appearance of unusual messages significantly increased after June 12. Prior to that date, such messages were mostly confined to the Red Sea, which had been a hotspot for attacks by Houthi rebels following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I've never seen it in the Persian Gulf,' Reuters quoted Daniel as saying. A Panama-flagged container ship, Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan, en route to Pakistan, was broadcasting the message 'PKKHI all Chinese' on Thursday as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, according to vessel tracking data from LSEG. Meanwhile, the China-flagged supertanker Yuan Yang Hu, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to China, was transmitting 'Chinese ship' while crossing the strait. Once it cleared the waterway, the signal changed to 'CN NBG,' referencing the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan. In the Red Sea, the Singapore-flagged container ship Kota Cabar broadcast the message 'Vsl no link Israel' as it navigated the high-risk area. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) also issued a warning about electronic interference affecting the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in the region. Disruptions to GNSS can cause ships to veer off course, heightening the risk of collisions or grounding. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Shipping Industry In Middle East On High Alert After US Strikes On Iran
The shipping industry was placed on high alert on Sunday with warnings that Tehran could retaliate against commercial vessels following US airstrikes against Iran's nuclear facilities. Greece, home to more oil-tanker capacity than any other nation, cautioned its ship owners to think again if they're considering entering the Persian Gulf in the wake of US airstrikes. Vessels planning to sail through the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that sits at the mouth of the region, should "reassess passage" until the situation normalizes, according to a circular seen by Bloomberg that its shipping ministry sent to vessel owners. It advised waiting in nearby safe ports. Naval forces in the area warned that ships, especially US-linked ones, could be at heightened risk. Shipping giant A.P. Moller - Maersk A/S said it continues to transit Hormuz but is ready to re-evaluate its position based on the information available. The actions of the maritime industry - and its risk tolerance - will be a critical detail in the wake of the strikes because of Iran's proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of the world's oil and an unavoidable searoute into the Persian Gulf. Athens' warning is the latest sign of pressure on shipping markets as attacks on Iran escalate. Tanker earnings already soared by almost 90% since Israel first started conducting airstrikes on June 13. As one of the world's largest shipowning nations, advice to Greece's vessel owners would have a major impact on commodity transportation markets, especially oil. There's every chance shipowners will ignore the advice because the Persian Gulf is too-important a region for them to avoid and rates can always rise to compensate for the risk of sailing in the region. Operators that do decide to transit Hormuz should adopt the highest security level available and maintain the maximum possible distance from Iranian waters, Greece's ministry added. In Sunday's notice, the Greek ministry cited concern around a possible closure of Hormuz as a reason behind its message. Officials at three Greek tanker companies said they were still assessing the situation. One did indicate he might still allow his tankers to enter the region, while another said their ships would likely stay away. Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said in a statement that the government, via the shipping ministry, advised Greek-flagged and Greek-owned ships in the area of the Strait of Hormuz to go to safe port until the situation normalizes. Bigger Risk Naval groups are also warning of greater risk. On Sunday, the Joint Maritime Information Center, a liaison between navies and merchant shipping in the region, said that the Washington's airstrikes mean US-linked ships sailing through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden face a high risk of attack. Yemen's Houthi rebel group issued fresh threats against American commercial and naval ships earlier in the day. There had been a ceasefire between the US and the Houthis in early May, geared toward limiting the group's attacks on the US navy. US-linked ships should consider re-routing, the JMIC said in its update. Still, it said some US-associated vessels have successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, "which is a positive sign for the immediate future." Separately, the European Union's naval force in the region raised its threat assessment for US-linked vessels as a result of the strikes. It now sees a severe threat to ships linked to the US and Israel and a low risk for all other ships. "This does not exclude the possibility of all merchant vessels being targeted in the future," it said in an update published by France's MICA Center, which helps co-ordinate global maritime security.
Al Arabiya
29-01-2025
- General
- Al Arabiya
Ship fire in Red Sea not linked to Houthi attacks, maritime center says
A fire aboard the Hong Kong-flagged ASL Bauhinia on Tuesday was not linked to Houthi attacks, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center said on Wednesday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, JMIC said. A maritime security source told Reuters that the fire resulted from hazardous cargo on board. There has been a spate of fires on board container ships in recent years due to flammable cargoes. The crew of the container ship abandoned it in the Red Sea on Tuesday, according to two maritime sources. Houthis have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, the Houthis said the group would limit its attacks on commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea to Israel-linked ships, provided the Gaza ceasefire is fully implemented. Since the Houthi attacks began, most vessels have diverted to the longer east-west route via the southern tip of Africa.
