UAE and Qatar Oil Giants Adopt Unconventional Shipping Tactics Amid Middle East Conflict
मुख्य बातें
- •Adnoc has relied on "dark transits" to navigate the Strait of Hormuz and maintain export flows amid geopolitical risk.
- •The company has leaned on its own controlled fleet, including ships operated through Navig8 and its joint venture with Wanhua Chemical Group.
- •Qatar has also continued exports through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting a broader pattern of Gulf producers adapting to volatile conditions.
- •Adnoc's strategy includes short-cycle "shuttle runs" and ship-to-ship transfers in safer waters to maximize throughput from terminals.
- •The scale of shipments remains below pre-conflict levels, particularly in LNG trade, where only a handful of crossings have been confirmed in recent months.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to increased pressure on global energy supply routes, prompting oil giants from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar to adopt unconventional shipping tactics. The UAE state energy firm, Adnoc, has been navigating the sensitive maritime corridor of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian forces and US naval patrols operate in close proximity. To avoid real-time detection, Adnoc has relied on "dark transits," where vessels switch off their transponders while passing through the strait. This tactic has helped maintain export flows during periods of geopolitical risk.
