BlockBeats report, on June 17, according to a Reuters investigation, amid heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian blockades, the U.S. military is suspected of establishing an unconventional ship-to-ship (STS) crude oil transfer network to maintain the flow of energy exports from the Gulf region.
The report, citing multiple sources, said the operation, which began in early May 2026, has involved at least 116 tankers and is estimated to have transferred approximately 90 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products, primarily in waters off Fujairah, UAE, and near the port of Sohar, Oman.
Satellite imagery shows a recent surge in oil tanker traffic in the area, with more than ten vessels operating simultaneously during peak periods. Sources familiar with the situation say the vessels routinely disable their AIS transponders and reduce visible signals when entering sensitive waters to evade tracking, closely resembling methods long used by Iran to circumvent sanctions.
The report stated that the system relies on U.S. coordination, scheduling, and surveillance support, including drones, helicopters, and maritime surveillance assets, but did not confirm direct U.S. military involvement in loading and unloading operations. The U.S. Department of Defense responded that Central Command forces did not participate in nearshore STS transfer operations.
Meanwhile, during the operation of this transportation network, security tensions in the Gulf persisted, with unidentified weapon attacks on tankers occurring in the Gulf of Oman, causing tanker operations in some areas to reach peak levels.
Analysis suggests that this energy transportation method, which relies on temporary transshipment and covert scheduling, exhibits clear characteristics of "shadow shipping," is less efficient than normal strait passage, but has become an alternative solution for maintaining global crude oil flows amid geopolitical conflicts.
Reuters estimates that the volume transferred through this system remains significantly below the pre-war daily throughput of about 20 million barrels through the Strait of Hormuz, and is viewed more as an emergency backup mechanism rather than a long-term solution.