TankerTrackers.com is one of the highest-quality public sources available right now. Kpler & Vortexa now note the trickle of dark or escorted transits. 14-16 Tankers passed through Hormuz Today.
Traffic is way down with normal ~150+ vessels per day has collapsed to low single digits or low teens (80-90% drop).
Tactics being used are turning off AIS during transit.
Spoofing AIS data to claim Chinese ownership in hopes Iran leaves them alone.
Greek-operated Suezmax tanker Shenlong (carrying Saudi crude) crossed recently while running dark.
Tankertrackers.com scombine public AIS data with satellite imagery and vessel-specific intel — especially strong on dark fleet tracking where ships turn off transponders (common in conflict zones).
Sanctions-compliant tankers (2 VLCCs + others) gone dark west of Hormuz, heading to China/India/Japan.
Iran loading 2 million barrels at Jask terminal south of the strait (only their 5th time in years).
Ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz: they turn off their transponders before passing through and switch them back on afterward. pic.twitter.com/g20IlMNqSu
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 9, 2026
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.
I heard that the navigable channel for large tankers is only two miles wide?
Should be relatively easy for Iran to mine?
I am deeply impressed as to how far “intelligent” sea mines have become.
I used to work with shipping. The strait of Hormuz is the nastiest bit of water. Its narrow, shallow and has poor visibility. Its possibly the origin of the idiom ‘Round the bend’.
Its not just bombs and missiles that will close the straits. Each lumbering tanker needs to know exactly where it is, and where its neighbours are. If Iran are saturating the area with GPS and communication jammers, they can do that entirely passively. There are beacons all along the coast, like lighthouses. They will have been switched off too.
One or two tankers might make it through at a time, but thats more to do with the straits being empty than sneaking passed Iranian speedboats.