SHADOW fleet* vessels are dominating tanker and gas carrier transits through the Strait of Hormuz as compliant tonnage — aside from several Dynacom tankers and less than a handful others — largely avoids the besieged waterway.

About half of all tanker and gas carrier over 10,000 dwt that have transited the Strait of Hormuz between March 1-8 were part of so-called shadow fleet, according to Lloyd’s List analysis, which included suspected dark transits.

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Meanwhile, Iran has also been utilising a rarely used terminal south of Hormuz to load vessels.

A very large crude carrier was seen loading at the Jask terminal near Kooh Mobarak last week, which marked only the fifth time in as many years that a ship has loaded there, according to TankersTrackers.com co-founder Samir Madani.

The previous time a vessel loaded there was a suezmax in December, Madani told Lloyd’s List.

Part of the reason for the terminal’s low usage may be the long time it takes vessels to load.

“Nothing happens quickly there,” said Madani.

“Last time a VLCC loaded there, it took about 10 days.”

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The gamble by shadow fleet vessels to transit the strait may stem from an assessment they are less likely to be targeted by Iran given that they serve its energy exports.

However, at least two shadow fleet tankers have been struck so far since the war began.

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While shipowners await further details of US naval escorts, first raised as a possibility by Trump last week, European leaders have also been discussing the possibility of European Union-backed escorts.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that he was working on the launch of a joint maritime mission to escort ships in an effort to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once the initial phase of the war has calmed down.