The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is covertly transporting oil, gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Strait of Hormuz [1].
These operations occur as the company attempts to maintain energy supplies to customers despite ongoing regional conflict and Iranian threats. Because the Gulf has limited storage capacity, the company must move these shipments through the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman [1, 2].
To avoid detection by Iranian forces and U.S. warships, ADNOC tankers have been disabling their vessel trackers [2, 3]. This practice, often referred to as "going dark," allows the fleet to slip through the contested waters without alerting monitoring systems [2].
Reports indicate these tactics were utilized for LNG shipments as recently as May 8 [2]. The covert movement of fuel is a response to a significant disruption in the region's energy trade. Since the war began, ADNOC exports have dropped by over 1 million barrels per day [4].
The company's reliance on its own fleet for these maneuvers highlights the risks associated with the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway is a critical chokepoint for global energy, and any escalation in the area could further destabilize oil and gas pricing [1, 3].
“ADNOC tankers have been disabling their vessel trackers”
The use of 'dark' shipments by a state-owned entity like ADNOC indicates a high level of risk aversion and a breakdown in standard maritime transparency. By bypassing tracking systems, the UAE is prioritizing the physical delivery of energy over diplomatic or regulatory norms, suggesting that the threat of Iranian interception is viewed as a more immediate danger than the legal or political fallout of covert transit.
