• Vessels transmit nationalities to reduce attack risks amid Israel-Iran tensions.
• 55 ships sent 101 unusual messages in June, highlighting safety concerns.
• Commercial traffic surged 30% following the recent ceasefire.

Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz have been broadcasting unusual messages concerning their nationalities to avoid being attacked, especially as doubts persist over the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, according to maritime risk analytics firm Windward and data from ship tracking services reported on June 26. Such measures have been implemented since conflict escalated early in the month, culminating in U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. U.S. President Donald Trump's brokered ceasefire followed 12 days of war, but the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) indicated that maritime threats remain heightened, underscoring the ongoing risk in the region, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The unusual signaling is a response to perceptions in the shipping community that certain nationalities, particularly those allied with the conflict such as the UK, U.S., and Israel, are at higher risk. According to Windward's CEO Ami Daniel, shipowners face challenges in determining ownership chains, which can complicate safety measures. Over the period from June 12 to June 24, 55 vessels transmitted 101 atypical messages, including designations like “China owned” and “Russian crude”, aimed at diverting potential aggression directed towards Western vessels, according to Dawn and Reuters.

Notably, commercial maritime traffic around the Strait surged by 30% on June 24, just after the ceasefire was declared. This strait is critical, handling about a fifth of global oil and fuel consumption. Ships typically convey their destinations or status such as “For Orders” during transit; however, during heightened threats, unusual messaging like “Armed Guards on Board” is also employed to deter attacks, according to Dawn and South China Morning Post.

These unusual messages were predominantly observed in the Red Sea prior to June 12, suggesting a shift as tensions mounted with the ongoing conflict. The Red Sea had experienced a number of attacks attributed to Houthi rebels related to the Israel-Gaza situation. Daniel noted, “I’ve never seen it in the Persian Gulf,” indicating a notable change in maritime operations in response to evolving threats, according to Reuters and Dawn.

Some vessels, such as the Panama-flagged container ship Yuan Xiang Fa Zhan and the China-flagged supertanker Yuan Yang Hu, have begun relaying their national identifiers while traversing through the Strait. Reports indicated that the Yuan Yang Hu changed its transmission signaling “Chinese ship” to reflect its destination at Ningbo-Zhoushan after clearing the Strait. Similarly, a Singapore-flagged ship signaled “Vsl no link Israel” as it navigated through the Red Sea. JMIC also alerted vessels to the risk of electronic interference with maritime navigation systems, which could exacerbate safety risks by causing vessels to go off course, according to South China Morning Post and Dawn.