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NYT: US guided merchant ships through Strait of Hormuz; transponders turned off, routes shifted toward Oman
The U.S. military has been unofficially facilitating passage for roughly 70 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks.
On the 31st (local time), The New York Times reported that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) guided about 70 merchant ships transiting the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz over the past three weeks. Sources told the paper most vessels turned off their transponders — position beacons — while negotiating the narrow strait to avoid detection.
CENTCOM did not disclose ship types or precise routes, but officials said at least one corridor kept ships well away from the Iranian coastline. U.S. authorities warned that transiting near Iran without its permission could expose vessels to drone or missile strikes. Shipping analysts said the routes the U.S. recommended appeared to track closer to Oman.
Before the war with Iran began, more than 100 vessels a day used the strait in late February. That indicates the U.S.-coordinated transits do not necessarily represent a major recovery for the shipping industry. Experts also noted that because the guided passages involved turning off transponders — so-called “dark sailings” — independent verification of how many ships actually passed is impossible.
Earlier, President Donald Trump unveiled a large-scale military plan called the “Liberation Project” in early May to keep ships moving through the strait, but he shelved the operation for several reasons, including opposition from Saudi Arabia. Since then, CENTCOM has encouraged transits but has not provided naval escorts.
CENTCOM spokesman Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins said, “We do not escort these ships, but we continue to engage and cooperate with merchant vessels to help keep the Strait of Hormuz — a vital international route for regional and global economies — free and safe.”
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