Iranian Tankers Resume Dark Operations After Brief AIS Transparency

Iran’s fleet of tankers, managed by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), has reverted to dark operations following a rare three-day period of broadcasting Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals. This unusual transparency occurred from October 12 to 14, 2023, during which 52 of the 88 Iran-flagged tankers transmitted their locations, a notable shift from their typical practices.

The maritime AI firm Windward described this development as “an abrupt pause in the prolonged ‘dark’ operations,” which usually last 30 days or longer for these vessels. The AIS signals from these tankers spanned significant routes, from Kharg Island in Iran to ports in China and through the strategically important Singapore Strait.

Analysis from Windward indicated that at least nine of NITC’s largest tankers were broadcasting signals while operating within Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. This area is notorious for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of oil, including U.S.-sanctioned crude. Despite this brief period of visibility, the signals began to vanish shortly after, and by October 17, only one tanker remained visible on AIS, according to TankerTrackers.com.

The motivations behind this temporary visibility remain unclear. Windward’s report noted that these events occurred less than three weeks after the reactivation of UN sanctions on Iran under “snapback” provisions. The timing also coincided with an intensified crackdown in Malaysia on unregulated STS operations.

Historically, NITC tankers have proven challenging to track due to their dark operations. They typically activate their AIS only during critical segments of their voyages. Most often, they are visible while traversing the Singapore Strait before going dark near the Riau Archipelago. Windward’s innovative Early Detection solution was instrumental in tracking the unusual AIS activities of the Iranian fleet during the noted three-day window.

The fact that Iranian-flagged tankers transmitted their AIS signals without spoofing for the first time in over seven years adds another layer of intrigue to this situation. The reasons for this brief experiment in transparency could reflect a policy decision by Iranian authorities, though there is no confirmation of this theory as of yet.

As NITC tanks continue their operations under these complex logistical arrangements, the return to dark operations indicates a likely reversion to practices aimed at evading scrutiny amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions and regulatory challenges.