Reuters: Gulf ships try to avoid targeting with "safe country" broadcasts

Amid lingering uncertainty over the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, vessels navigating near the Strait of Hormuz have begun transmitting unusual messages identifying their nationality in an effort to avoid becoming targets, according to maritime risk intelligence firm Windward and shipping data, cited by Reuters.

These atypical broadcasts have been observed since the start of hostilities between Israel and Iran earlier this month, which escalated to US-led strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Although US President Donald Trump secured a ceasefire after 12 days of conflict, the Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) warns that the threat level in the region remains elevated.

Ami Daniel, CEO of Windward, explained that "the perception among shipowners is that due to the convoluted nature of shipping, it’s hard to clearly trace ownership back to nationalities that may be under heightened threat, namely the US, UK, and Israel."

Between June 12 and June 24, Windward recorded 55 vessels transmitting a total of 101 atypical messages across the Gulf and Red Sea. Examples include messages like "China owned" and "Russian crude" — phrases meant to signal neutrality or association with countries considered less likely to be targeted.

Commercial maritime traffic spiked by 30 per cent on June 24, just one day after the ceasefire was announced, according to JMIC data. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategic shipping chokepoints, with nearly 20 per cent of global oil and fuel consumption passing through its narrow waters.

Under normal conditions, vessels typically broadcast their destinations or use phrases such as "For Orders." Occasionally, ships also declare the presence of "Armed Guards on Board" to deter piracy or other threats. However, Windward noted that before June 12, these kinds of unusual self-identification messages were primarily seen in the Red Sea, a region long plagued by attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels following the onset of the Israel-Gaza war.

"I've never seen it in the Persian Gulf," Daniel said, highlighting the novelty of this tactic in the region.

Real-time tracking data illustrated several examples of this phenomenon. On June 26, the Panama-flagged container ship Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan, en route to Pakistan, transmitted the message "PKKHI all Chinese" as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the China-flagged supertanker Yuan Yang Hu, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to China, broadcast "Chinese ship" while traversing the Strait before changing its signal to "CN NBG" (the Chinese port of Ningbo-Zhoushan) after clearing the area.

Similarly, the Singapore-flagged container vessel Kota Cabar signalled "Vsl no link Israel" as it sailed through the Red Sea — another example of ships attempting to declare neutrality.

In addition to the messaging tactics, the JMIC issued a warning about electronic interference in the region, specifically targeting the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Interference or jamming of GNSS signals can throw ships off course, increasing the risk of collisions with other vessels or maritime obstacles.

By Tamilla Hasanova