Oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz are holding near 9 million barrels per day despite another attack on an ADNOC vessel, as a two-tier tanker system of dark transits and ship-to-ship transfers off Oman keeps barrels moving, according to Splash247.
Attacks on ADNOC fleet continue
The latest incident involved the 2012-built, Liberian-flagged bulker Al Watan, struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Omani corridor on August 14, Splash247 reported. The UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) said the vessel's hull was hit but the crew were safe. Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified the ship, while Pole Star Global data links it to ADNOC Logistics & Services.
The attack came a day after the ADNOC-affiliated Navig8 Messi and aframax Tarif were struck by UAVs on outbound transits. Both sustained minor damage and continued under their own power. ADNOC now reports 19 of its vessels have been attacked during the conflict.
Two-tier tanker system keeps the barrels flowing
US energy secretary Chris Wright put Hormuz oil transits at around 9 million barrels per day last week, close to half pre-war levels, while Bloomberg has reported flows considerably above the 4 million barrels per day the market had widely assumed, according to Splash247.
Behind that resilience is an emerging two-tier tanker system. Risk-tolerant owners are running vessels through Hormuz, often with AIS switched off, before conducting ship-to-ship transfers off Oman. Mainstream tanker operators then take over for the long-haul voyage. EU Sentinel-1 satellite data indicates around 150 ships are now floating off Oman awaiting transfers, compared with roughly 40 in January.
EU Sentinel-1 satellite data indicates around 150 ships are now floating off Oman awaiting transfers, compared with roughly 40 in January, according to Splash247.
| Metric | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Ships floating off Oman awaiting transfers | ~150 | ~40 (January) |
| Hormuz oil transits | ~9m barrels per day | close to half pre-war levels |
| ADNOC vessels attacked during conflict | 19 | — |
Saudi Arabia and Bahri shift into the same structure
Saudi Arabia, the only Gulf producer with a significant alternative export route, is increasingly moving into the same two-tier structure as renewed Houthi activity makes the Red Sea option more precarious, Splash247 reported. Bahri has 16 VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers) positioned off Oman with another three heading there, while two vessels loaded at Ras Tanura last week.
The Joint Maritime Information Center continues to rate the Hormuz threat level as severe.
Operational implications for shippers and charterers
For freight forwarders, tanker operators, and charterers working Gulf load ports, the practical takeaway from Splash247's reporting is that a Hormuz cargo now typically involves two legs: a dark-transit shuttle through the strait, and a mainstream tanker that takes over after a ship-to-ship transfer off Oman. With roughly 150 vessels queuing in the transfer zone — up from about 40 in January — voyage schedules should factor in potential waiting time at the Omani anchorage. Because shuttles often run with AIS switched off, cargo owners may face reduced visibility on a cargo's exact position until the transfer to a mainstream tanker occurs. The ADNOC tally of 19 attacked vessels, including hull damage to the Al Watan, underscores the security risk for any operator choosing the dark-transit route.
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