PHANTOM TANKERS PLAGUE HORMUZ AS TRACKERS ADAPT

Analysts are detecting a surge in spoofed vessel signals in the Strait of Hormuz, where GPS coordinates are being falsified to obscure ship movements. The phenomenon has forced insurance firms and energy traders to become more inventive in their tracking capabilities. The disappearing vessels complicate risk assessment for maritime commerce in a waterway that handles roughly one-third of global seaborne trade. Insurers require accurate data to price coverage, while oil traders need transparency to execute transactions. The spoofing activity coincides with geopolitical tensions in the region. Wall Street has responded to speculation about potential conflict de-escalation, with the S&P 500 hitting successive records and Bitcoin gaining around $12,000 in April. Analysts continue developing alternative tracking methods as spoofing incidents multiply, addressing a critical gap in maritime visibility that affects global energy markets.