Ships in Hormuz Broadcast Fake National Ties to Avoid Attacks

🚢 Amid rising tensions following the Israel–Iran war, ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz are broadcasting misleading identity signals such as “China owned” or “Russian crude” in an effort to appear neutral and reduce the risk of being targeted.

According to maritime analytics firm Windward, at least 55 vessels broadcast 101 unusual messages between June 12–24 across the Gulf and Red Sea. This tactic surged as Iran’s regional threats heightened during the conflict, and despite the ceasefire brokered by Trump, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reports that maritime threats remain elevated.

📡 Notable examples:
• A Panama-flagged ship en route to Pakistan declared: “PKKHI all Chinese”
• A China-flagged tanker first signaled: “Chinese ship”, then changed to “CN NBG” (Ningbo Port)
• A Singapore-flagged vessel in the Red Sea broadcasted: “Vsl no link Israel”

The intent: Distancing from Western affiliations like U.S., UK, or Israel, now seen as high-risk identities in regional waters.

📈 On June 24, commercial traffic through the strait rose 30%, just a day after the ceasefire — highlighting the critical role of Hormuz, which handles ~20% of global oil.

⚠️ The JMIC also warned of:
• Increased GPS jamming
• Growing electronic interference
• Higher collision risks as navigation becomes compromised

The use of identity deception and digital countermeasures marks a new front in maritime security, blending cyber tactics with traditional threats.