Two mysterious ‘zombie’ ships have been spotted passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway handling a fifth of global oil trade, amid escalating Iran-US tensions in the Persian Gulf.
Reports have emerged of two “zombie” ships spotted navigating through the Strait of Hormuz – as pressure continues to mount on Iran to reopen the key oil route.
The strait, a critical artery for about a fifth of all global oil trade, has become a significant flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which has lasted over three weeks.
Iran has blocked this crucial trade route amid the escalating conflict, triggered after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on several key Iranian sites on 28 February. In retaliation, Iran struck targets across the Middle East, plunging the region into turmoil.
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Traffic through the strait has plummeted since the onset of the conflict.
However, reports in the past week suggest that a Japanese-owned tanker carrying liquefied natural gas and a vehicle carrier have navigated in and out of the channel, according to Australian news site news.com.
It’s believed the ship had been decommissioned and scrapped for parts before the war erupted, but it seems to have re-emerged since then.
A zombie ship is a vessel operating under the identity of a ship that has been officially retired – essentially an active ship using the alias of one that no longer exists.
This tactic is typically employed to dodge international sanctions, facilitate illicit cargo movements and circumvent safety regulations.
This comes as Iran faces increasing pressure to reopen the crucial trade route – it is the sole exit from the Persian Gulf.
