How the US Used Secretive Ship-to-Ship Transfers to Bypass Hormuz

As the Middle East crisis choked one of the world’s most vital energy corridors for over 100 days, the United States deployed an unconventional strategy to prevent a global energy collapse. By adopting tactics similar to those used in sanctions-busting, the US military orchestrated a massive, covert ship-to-ship oil transfer operation to keep Gulf crude moving despite Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Mechanics of a Covert Maritime Operation

Since early May, the US military has overseen a sophisticated network designed to move oil through the contested Strait of Hormuz without the need for traditional naval escorts. Instead of protecting ships with warships, the US military has focused on aerial surveillance, strict compliance monitoring, and logistical coordination.

The process involves a two-stage relay system. Smaller tankers carry crude through the Strait, maintaining a safe distance of 3,000 to 4,000 metres from one another to avoid detection and collision. To minimize their profile, these vessels often switch off transponders and dim their lights during transit. Once they pass the Iranian-claimed zone, they meet Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) at two strategic offshore hubs: Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates and near Sohar, Oman. These transfers are intensive, typically taking between 24 and 40 hours to complete before the loaded VLCCs head to international markets.

Operation by the Numbers: Scale and Impact

The scale of this "shadow" network is significant, despite the immense risks involved. Satellite imagery and shipping data reveal the following specifics of the operation:

• Volume Moved: It is estimated that at least 90 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products have moved through this offshore network since early May.
• Vessel Involvement: At least 116 vessels have participated in these transfers to date.
• Peak Activity: The operation reached its zenith on June 11, with 17 pairs of ships conducting simultaneous transfers across the two designated hubs.
• Logistical Oversight: All operators must undergo rigorous compliance checks and coordinate transit slots through the US Navy’s Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping office in Bahrain.

Meskipun 90 juta barel yang dipindahkan jumlahnya cukup besar, angka tersebut tetap merupakan sebagian kecil dari sekitar 20 juta barel yang biasanya melewati Selat Hormuz setiap harinya dalam kondisi normal.

Risiko Tinggi dan Bahaya Navigasi

Operasi ini bukannya tanpa bahaya. Para pejabat industri pelayaran telah menyuarakan kekhawatiran terkait meningkatnya risiko tabrakan laut. Menavigasi dengan kecepatan tinggi dalam kegelapan total—tanpa transponder atau lampu—membuat koreksi arah yang cepat menjadi hampir mustahil. Selain itu, ketegangan geopolitik sangat terasa; operasi ini bertepatan dengan gesekan militer yang signifikan, termasuk jatuhnya helikopter Apache pada 9 Juni.

Blokade Selat tersebut, yang biasanya menampung seperlima dari konsumsi minyak global, memicu apa yang digambarkan sebagai guncangan pasokan energi global terbesar dalam sejarah, yang mendorong inflasi di seluruh dunia. Meskipun laporan terbaru menunjukkan potensi pembukaan kembali Selat tersebut di bawah kerangka perjanjian damai, operasi rahasia yang dipimpin AS ini berfungsi sebagai penyangga kritis terhadap kelumpuhan energi total.

Poin-Poin Penting

• Pergeseran Taktis: AS beralih dari pengawalan angkatan laut menuju model pengawasan-dan-transfer, menggunakan tanker yang lebih kecil untuk mengangkut minyak ke VLCC yang lebih besar di lepas pantai.
• Volume Masif: Diperkirakan 90 juta barel minyak telah dipindahkan melalui pusat Fujairah dan Sohar melalui jaringan rahasia ini sejak awal Mei.
• Risiko Operasional: Penggunaan transit "gelap" dan transfer di malam hari telah secara signifikan meningkatkan risiko kecelakaan laut dan tabrakan di Teluk Oman.