Ships in the Gulf declare themselves Chinese to dodge Iranian attacks as 1,000 vessels worth $25B sit trapped
Mar 9, 2026
Key Points
- At least 10 vessels trapped in the Gulf are spoofing transponders to declare Chinese ownership or crew, exploiting shipping's layered registration system to deter Iranian attacks.
- Some ships go further, switching off transponders entirely to slip silently through the Strait of Hormuz, consistent with near-zero traffic visible on shipping maps.
- Around 1,000 ships worth $25 billion are currently trapped inside the Gulf.
Summary
At least 10 vessels trapped in the Gulf have altered their transponder signals to declare themselves Chinese, displaying messages such as "Chinese owner," "all Chinese crew," or "Chinese crew on board," in an apparent attempt to avoid Iranian attacks. The tactic exploits a structural feature of commercial shipping: vessels are routinely registered in one country, operated by another, and flying a third country's flag for tax or commercial reasons, which makes transponder declarations easy to manipulate.
Around 1,000 ships with a combined value of $25 billion are currently trapped inside the Gulf and its immediate surroundings. Some vessels appear to be going further than identity spoofing, switching off transponders entirely, moving quietly through the Strait of Hormuz, and switching back on once clear. Shipping-traffic maps show almost no movement through the strait, which is consistent with that pattern.
The Financial Times reported the transponder story.