Electronic warfare escalates? GPS signals are jammed, and a "bizarre formation of ships" appears in the Strait of Hormuz!

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Electronic interference around the Strait of Hormuz may be intensifying, severe distortion of GPS signals is plunging the world’s most important energy corridor into navigational chaos, with far-reaching impacts on global oil markets and shipping industries.

Bloomberg tracking data shows that there are currently at least twelve large ship clusters near the Strait of Hormuz, some containing over 200 ships, with some vessels showing speeds over 100 knots on data—which is typically an abnormal reading caused by electronic interference with navigation signals.

This phenomenon suggests that as the US-Israel vs Iran war remains deadlocked, the risk of electronic warfare around the strait may be rising. Maritime intelligence firm Windward indicates that signal interference began at the start of the conflict, affecting over 1,100 vessels in the Persian Gulf so far.

The actual blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has already plunged global energy markets into chaos, previously pushing Brent crude futures to nearly $120 per barrel; however, US President Trump on Tuesday hinted the war may soon end, and prices then sharply dropped, quoted at $93 at press time.

Bizarre Ship Arrays Emerge, Position Data Rendered Useless

The scenes presented by Bloomberg’s tracking data are shocking: the clusters of ships not only are large, but also show perplexing geometric shapes—one group forms an almost circular pattern toward inland Abu Dhabi, and another forms an inverted "Z" shape near the waters off Ruwais, UAE.

Some clusters also appear in the Gulf of Oman, which may mean the relevant ships are waiting on the periphery for the situation to ease or for confirmation of safe loading dates before entering the strait.

Mark Douglas, analyst at maritime intelligence firm Starboard Maritime Intelligence, stated that judging the actual position of any ship near the strait using tracking data has become nearly impossible.

The cause of these ship arrays is the distortion of ships’ navigation systems due to electronic interference—affected ships appear on tracking platforms as being far from their real coordinates. Such electronic warfare tactics usually become frequent during heightened geopolitical tensions and are part of military confrontations.

Ship Speed Data Severely Distorted, Single Tanker "190 km/h"

The distortion of ship speed reports due to signal interference is especially prominent. Bloomberg data shows that a product tanker named Asprouda sent a signal on Monday near Jebel Ali showing a speed of 102 knots, equivalent to 190 km/h. Yet the actual top speed for such tankers is usually only around 16 knots.

Mark Douglas bluntly said: "Clearly, any ship sailing in the area cannot rely on GPS." He emphasized that this situation "has further increased the safety risk of ships being attacked,"—when navigation is already unreliable, it becomes more difficult to respond to physical security threats.

War Risk Premium Climbs, Ship Owners and Charterers Under Pressure

Persistent electronic interference and navigational chaos are amplifying operational risks for shipowners and charterers in the region. With the conflict still unresolved, the industry is facing sustained rises in war risk insurance rates, and several ships have already been attacked by missiles. The emergence of massive ship clusters will inevitably further intensify market tensions.

On the policy front, Trump has proposed that the US may offer insurance and naval escorts for transiting ships to try to restart normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He also told CBS that he is "considering taking over," but exactly what actions he envisions remain unclear.

Windward data confirms the severity of the situation: traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted from pre-conflict levels, while this corridor is a vital link between the Persian Gulf and global markets. The drastic drop in transit has forced Persian Gulf oil producers to cut their output.

Risk Warning and DisclaimerThe market carries risks, investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice, nor does it take into account the special investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, viewpoints, or conclusions in this article are suitable to their own circumstances. Investing based on this is at your own risk. ```