Tankers are reactivating transponders ahead of Strait of Hormuz transits after a U.S.-Iran deal eased navigation risks.
Oil tankers are increasingly broadcasting their positions via AIS as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz shows signs of recovery. The shift follows a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, which reduced tensions in the critical chokepoint. Previously, most vessels operated in “dark mode,” disabling transponders to avoid detection amid sanctions and geopolitical risks.
Before the agreement, dark mode—once associated with Iran’s sanction evasion—became widespread among tankers navigating the region. The resumption of AIS signals suggests improved confidence in safe passage, though volumes remain below pre-crisis levels.
No immediate market reaction was reported, but the development could ease concerns over supply disruptions in one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes.