To maintain LNG exports, UAE's ADNOC activates "stealth mode": transport ships turn off transponders to forcefully pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

In order to continue transit through the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) of the United Arab Emirates has successfully maintained the export transport of a small amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by taking the approach of hiding the positions of oil tankers. Through the analysis of ship tracking data and information from insiders, it has been revealed that at least two LNG transport ships loaded at the ADNOC Das Island plant shut off their location signals when leaving the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran. Satellite images show that despite no ship broadcasting their location near the factory, there are still vessels docked at the port. Ship data also shows that three other ADNOC LNG transport ships, which were empty, stopped transmitting signals after arriving at the eastern entrance of the strait. According to an insider, these ships are also hiding their sailing trajectories, preparing to enter the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. Due to the lack of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, both sides have essentially blockaded the waterway that typically carries about one-fifth of the world's LNG supply, almost closing the Strait of Hormuz. Ships continue to face security threats, including an attack by an Iranian drone earlier this week on an ADNOC-related oil tanker near Oman. ADNOC has not responded to requests for comments regarding these matters. The impact of the strait closure on LNG transport is even greater than that of crude oil. As of now, at least two fully loaded LNG transport ships related to ADNOC have left the Persian Gulf since late February. Although this indicates a gradual recovery of transport, it is still far from the pre-war level of about three shipments per day. This move by ADNOC highlights that as the conflict enters its third month and with no clear timetable for full navigation to resume in the Strait of Hormuz, producers are taking riskier strategies to transport fuel out of the region. This strategy allows ADNOC to maintain its limited LNG production from export facilities. This stands in stark contrast to neighboring Qatar. Since the closure of the strait following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February, Qatar has not shipped any LNG through this waterway. After being attacked by Iran, Qatar was forced to shut down its large Ras Laffan LNG export facilities in March and announced to customers that scheduled shipments were disrupted due to force majeure. LNG ship owners and operators are the most risk-averse group in the shipping industry, and the decision to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without sending signals marks a complete departure from past practices. For example, since the Houthi attacks escalated in 2023, almost all LNG carriers have avoided the Red Sea route. Shipping data shows that the ADNOC-owned tanker "Mraweh" was found loaded with cargo near northern Indonesia on Wednesday after not sending location signals for over two weeks, with its next destination being Japan. The vessel had appeared empty near the eastern entrance of the Strait of Hormuz on April 19 after being idle since loading cargo from Das Island in early March. Similarly, the "Mubaraz" vessel, which loaded cargo from Das Island in early March, stopped sending signals at the end of March and reappeared in the waters near the southern tip of India nearly a month later.