Recently, unusual interference has been detected in the Strait of Hormuz region. Monitoring agencies have observed that over a hundred cargo ships near the Persian Gulf suddenly “teleported” to the inland desert. Some ships even appeared on system displays to be “racing” at supersonic speeds exceeding 100 knots.

This is not a system malfunction; it appears to be electronic jamming.

As tensions in the region escalate, large-scale electronic warfare systems have been activated in the area for defensive purposes. Although the original intent was to defend against missiles and drones, this “indiscriminate interference” has also disrupted the AIS positioning systems used by civilian shipping.

What does this mean for shippers and freight forwarders?

The most immediate impact is the “loss of visibility.” To mitigate risks, many oil tankers and cargo ships have proactively turned off their signals, effectively “vanishing” from radar.

While this protects the vessels, it makes it significantly more difficult for shippers to monitor the real-time logistics trajectory of their cargo once it enters this region.

While this level of disruption is not yet enough to paralyze shipping, “uncontrollable factors” are indeed on the rise. During this sensitive period, if your cargo happens to be passing through the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf region, we recommend that shippers maintain frequent contact with their freight forwarders and shipping lines, rather than relying solely on online tracking systems.

Sometimes, the risks associated with “invisibility” are more concerning than those associated with “visibility.”