ADNOC continues LNG loading at Das Island as tankers go dark to navigate Strait of Hormuz disruptions

Satellite imagery shows Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. is still loading liquefied natural gas tankers at its Das Island facility in the Persian Gulf — even as military hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz persist and energy flows through the waterway remain severely disrupted. Copernicus Sentinel-2 images captured a vessel docked at the export terminal on Sept. 2, with at least one other tanker spotted nearby. No ships, however, were broadcasting their positions in the area.

ADNOC loads LNG tankers at Das Island despite Hormuz disruptions

The satellite evidence tells a pretty clear story: ADNOC is keeping its Das Island export terminal running while most of the region’s energy trade has basically stopped. Copernicus Sentinel-2 imagery from September 2 shows a vessel docked at the facility, with at least one more tanker visible in the surrounding waters. Small-scale, yes — but clearly intentional.

What makes the imagery striking is what you don’t see. Ship-tracking data shows no vessels broadcasting their positions near Das Island. That silence on AIS networks isn’t a technical glitch — it’s a deliberate choice. Tankers appear to have switched off their transponders to avoid detection while moving through one of the world’s most contested shipping lanes. ADNOC didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

But the methods required — dark transits, ship-to-ship transfers outside the strait — show just how constrained and fragile those export routes have become.

Tankers travel ‘dark’ through the Strait to collect and export cargo

The logistics involve a carefully choreographed disappearing act. According to ship-tracking data, LNG tankers linked to ADNOC stop near the eastern shore of the UAE, disable their Automatic Identification System transponders, and travel undetected through the Strait of Hormuz to Das Island to load cargo. Only after clearing the gulf do they switch their signals back on.

Risky, but apparently effective. Going dark removes a vessel from public tracking systems, making it harder for hostile actors to identify and target the ship — though the tradeoff is reduced maritime safety oversight. For operators moving cargo through an active conflict zone, the calculation clearly favors concealment.

ADNOC has also tried other ways to get gas out of the region. Last month, an ADNOC-owned vessel conducted a ship-to-ship cargo transfer outside of Hormuz entirely, moving LNG from one tanker to another beyond the strait’s danger zone rather than risking a fully loaded vessel through the chokepoint. It’s another sign the company is actively adapting its export strategy as the security situation keeps shifting.

Renewed US-Iran hostilities raise concerns over further energy flow disruptions

The backdrop just got more complicated. The US and Iran resumed fighting this week after a period of relative calm, reigniting concerns about energy supply disruptions through Hormuz. The strait remains the single most critical chokepoint for global oil and gas flows, and escalation there sends ripples through energy markets worldwide.

US President Donald Trump said the attacks on Iran would likely be short-lived, but added that “we’re prepared to do another one any time we want.” That kind of language leaves the door open for further military action and doesn’t do much to reassure shipping operators trying to plan safe transits.

The threat isn’t theoretical. Earlier this week, two oil supertankers were struck in the strait, continuing a pattern of attacks on commercial vessels that has defined the conflict’s impact on maritime trade. Each incident reinforces why so many operators have pulled back from the region entirely.

Persian Gulf LNG exports remain far below pre-conflict levels

Even with ADNOC still moving cargo, the broader picture for Persian Gulf LNG exports is rough. Before the conflict, the region was sending out roughly three LNG shipments per day. Visible flows have been at an effective standstill since an Iranian attack on a Qatar-owned vessel in early July — a single incident that essentially froze the region’s gas trade.

Qatar, which ranked as the world’s second-largest LNG exporter last year, has largely stopped sending fuel through Hormuz due to safety concerns. Tankers have been loaded periodically at its Ras Laffan facility, but consistent outbound shipments through the strait haven’t materialized. Instead, Qatar has been rerouting deliveries to Kuwait — a workaround that sidesteps the strait but severely limits export reach.

That context makes ADNOC’s activity stand out. It’s limited, nowhere near a return to normal operations, but it remains one of the few active LNG export efforts still functioning in the Persian Gulf right now.

Shipping activity is ongoing

Here’s what the current situation adds up to. ADNOC is loading LNG tankers at Das Island, but vessels are going dark — disabling their AIS transponders — to move through the Strait of Hormuz without broadcasting their location. Satellite imagery confirms the activity is ongoing, even as ship-tracking data shows no vessels publicly transmitting positions near the facility.

LNG exports from the Persian Gulf remain well below pre-war levels. Qatar, the region’s dominant LNG producer, has largely halted shipments through the strait. Renewed US-Iran military exchanges this week, combined with fresh attacks on oil supertankers, are keeping the security risk elevated.

ADNOC’s operations suggest the UAE is finding ways to keep at least some energy flowing out of the Gulf. But the methods required — dark transits, ship-to-ship transfers outside the strait — show just how constrained and fragile those export routes have become.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.