Zombie Ships Navigate Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Conflict
A vessel masquerading as a scrapped oil tanker has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the second instance of a so-called “zombie ship” in just a few days. The ship, identified as the Nabiin, was tracked in the Persian Gulf on Sunday evening and subsequently in the Gulf of Oman by Monday morning, indicating it had traversed the critical maritime chokepoint. According to Bloomberg, the Aframax tanker, built in 2002, was reportedly sent to shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh five years ago. This strongly suggests that the vessel currently using the Nabiin name is operating under the identity of a scrapped ship, a tactic increasingly employed by shipowners to navigate the war-affected region.
The emergence of the Nabiin follows closely on the heels of another vessel, the Jamal, which was seen crossing the strait just days prior. The Jamal was also listed as having been beached at an Indian demolition yard last year, further indicating that it too was a doppelganger operating under a false identity. These incidents highlight the lengths to which shipowners are willing to go to transport cargo through Hormuz, where commercial traffic has nearly ground to a halt since the escalation of conflict in the Middle East at the end of February.
Strait of Hormuz: A Blockade and Its Implications
The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed since the onset of the Middle East war, with only a limited number of vessels managing to transit. Reports indicate that the ships able to navigate the strait are either linked to Iran or have received approval from Tehran. Some vessels have even turned off their tracking systems to evade monitoring. U.S. President Donald Trump issued a two-day ultimatum to Iran to reopen the strait or face potential military action against Iranian power plants. In response, Tehran has threatened to completely close Hormuz if attacked.
The ongoing conflict has created a high-risk environment for global energy flows, with traffic through the strait at a virtual standstill. Iranian threats and attacks have transformed the area into a perilous zone for maritime trade. The situation is further complicated by heavy electronic interference affecting ship transmission signals, making it difficult to track vessel movements accurately. The Nabiin, for instance, entered the Persian Gulf shortly before the war began, initially listing Iraq’s Khor Al Zubair as its destination. However, its precise movements remain unclear due to the electronic disruptions in the region.
Challenges in Identifying Zombie Ships
The identity of the ship posing as the Nabiin remains unverified, including whether it is indeed an oil tanker. After leaving the Gulf, the vessel indicated it was fully laden based on draft readings but did not disclose a clear destination. This lack of transparency has led to speculation that the ship may be transporting cargo under a false identity to avoid scrutiny.
International shipping database Equasis lists two Dubai-based firms, Muhit Maritime FZE and Sagitta Maritime Co Ltd, as the manager and owner of Nabiin, respectively. However, attempts to contact these companies have been unsuccessful, raising further questions about the vessel’s operations. Similarly, the Jamal’s manager, Resurgence Ship Management Pvt. in Mumbai, did not respond to inquiries.
The use of “zombie ships” is not entirely new but has gained prominence in the shadow shipping trade, particularly in the context of sanctioned oil movements. The current situation in Hormuz, characterized by active maritime conflict, adds a new layer of complexity to this practice. As the region faces escalating threats, including potential mining of access routes by Iran, the risks to commercial shipping continue to grow, echoing historical oil crises and the geopolitical fallout from recent global events.
