Dual shipping routes emerge in Hormuz even as navigation critical: Navy report

Panaji: The Indian Navy has seen an observable shift in cargo vessel traffic in the Persian Gulf, with some vessels transiting via a controlled corridor near Larak Island. The Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) says that there is a possibility that some vessels are given “facilitated passage” through diplomatic coordination, while remaining outside established traffic lanes.

The Navy said that maritime security across the Strait of Hormuz, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman remains critical, characterised by a structured, adaptive threat campaign and an increasingly controlled transit environment.

Iran reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz again for cargo vessels, less than 24 hours after agreeing to a ceasefire deal with the United States. The Navy’s latest weekly advisory said that transit activity continues at “historically suppressed levels, with movements limited and irregular”, while a proportion of marine traffic remains unreported or operating under AIS constraints, complicating maritime domain awareness.

“An observable shift in routing behaviour has emerged, with vessels transiting via a controlled corridor near Larak Island, suggesting the possibility of facilitated passage through diplomatic coordination, while remaining outside established traffic lanes,” the weekly report said.

Concurrently, automatic identification system (AIS) data indicates vessels embedding country-linked identifiers in destination fields, assessed as a deliberate measure to mitigate perceived threats during transit through the hostile region.

The IFC-IOR has noticed operational patterns that confirm a “multi-layered threat environment”, combining direct attacks, including from drones and debris from intercepted missiles. Falling debris continues to pose a credible hazard to vessels and crew, the naval advisory said.

The Navy said it continues to record persistent GPS interference and AIS manipulation across key transit corridors, which in turn are further degrading navigational reliability and obscuring maritime situational awareness.

The cumulative impact continues to strain energy flows, disrupt supply chains and sustain elevated war risk premiums, the report said.

The Navy continues to advise shipping companies and vessel crew to exercise caution and strictly adhere to maritime safety norms while navigating the war-torn region.