BlockBeats News, June 17th, according to a Reuters investigation report, under the tension in the Strait of Hormuz and the impact of Iran's blockade, the U.S. military has allegedly established an unconventional ship-to-ship (STS) crude oil transfer network to maintain the operation of the Gulf region's energy export channels.

The report cited multiple sources familiar with the matter, stating that the operation started in early May 2026 and has involved at least 116 oil tankers, potentially transferring around 90 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products in total. The primary operational areas are located in the international waters off Fujairah, UAE, and near the port of Sohar, Oman.

Satellite images show a recent intensive anchorage of oil tankers in the area for transfers, with periods of more than ten groups of vessels operating simultaneously. Informants said that the relevant ships would turn off their AIS transponders and reduce visible signals when entering sensitive waters to evade tracking, a method highly similar to Iran's long-used sanction evasion shipping practices.

The report noted that this system relies on U.S. coordination for scheduling and monitoring support, including drones, helicopters, and maritime surveillance resources, but it did not confirm direct U.S. military involvement in loading and unloading operations. The U.S. Department of Defense responded by stating that the Central Command forces were not involved in the near-sea STS transfer operation.

Meanwhile, the security situation in the Gulf remained tense during the operation of this transportation network. The Gulf of Oman had previously experienced unidentified weapon attacks on oil tankers, leading to a peak in tanker operations in some areas.

Analysts believe that this energy transportation method, relying on temporary transfers and covert scheduling, exhibits distinct characteristics of "gray shipping," with lower efficiency compared to normal strait passage. However, in the context of geopolitical conflicts, it has become an alternative to maintaining global crude oil flow.

Reuters estimated that the scale of this system's transfers remains significantly lower than the pre-war daily passage volume of about 20 million barrels through the Strait of Hormuz, with more consideration as an emergency supplementary measure rather than a long-term solution.