U.S. Uses Iranian-Style Sea Transfers to Keep Gulf Oil Moving

The U.S. military has been running a covert, large-scale maritime operation since early May to keep oil exports from the Persian Gulf flowing amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, the American effort uses a method long associated with Iran, moving oil from smaller tankers to larger vessels at sea under air and drone surveillance. At least 92 ships have taken part, and the operation has already moved at least 90 million barrels of oil and fuel products.

The transfers take place at two main sites in the Gulf of Oman, one off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and another near Sohar in Oman. On June 11, satellite imagery showed 17 pairs of ships carrying out transfers simultaneously at the two locations. The smaller tankers gather at a staging point before entering the strait, travel three to four kilometers apart, keep tracking devices off and lights dimmed, then meet larger tankers outside the area Iran claims as its own. The transfer itself takes 24 to 40 hours.

The U.S. Navy oversees the system from Bahrain, but there is no evidence that American troops physically handle the transfers. Operators must provide detailed routing history, beneficial ownership information, cargo documents and agree to inspections before receiving a passage slot. The process is intended to bypass the maritime risks created by the closure of Hormuz and preserve export flows from Gulf states.

The operation has carried significant risks. An American Apache helicopter taking part in the mission was shot down by Iran last week, and officials say the work is happening in an especially sensitive zone near boundaries set by a new Iranian body, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority. Shipping experts warn that darkened vessels and disabled trackers raise collision risks, while Iran could still use drones or armed boats to stop more traffic. Maritime risk specialist Noam Ridan of the Washington Institute called it only a temporary fix, saying, "I do not see this as a permanent solution. It is a temporary solution for an unusual period."