Ghost Fleets in the Gulf: Mysterious Ship Clusters Emerge Near Strait of Hormuz as Electronic Warfare Scrambles Navigation

A strange and unsettling phenomenon is unfolding in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes. Maritime tracking systems are suddenly showing clusters of hundreds of ships gathering near the Strait of Hormuz, with some vessels appearing to move at impossible speeds — a strong signal that electronic interference is disrupting navigation systems in the region.

The unusual patterns have appeared amid the ongoing U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran, a confrontation that has already brought much of the oil traffic through the narrow strait to a near halt.

According to tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, at least a dozen clusters of ships have been detected in waters around the strategic corridor. Some of these clusters show more than 200 vessels grouped together, forming strange patterns that defy normal maritime behavior.

For shipowners and traders already nervous about missile strikes and rising war-risk insurance costs, the development is adding yet another layer of uncertainty.

The abnormal data suggests that electronic jamming is scrambling the GPS signals ships rely on to report their position and speed.

One striking example involved the products tanker Asprouda, which appeared on Monday to be traveling 102.2 knots near Jebel Ali — the equivalent of roughly 190 kilometers per hour.

In reality, tankers of this size typically travel at about 16 knots.

Such discrepancies indicate that navigation signals are being manipulated or jammed, causing vessels to appear in locations where they are not physically present.

“Trying to tell where any vessel actually is has become almost impossible,” said Mark Douglas, an analyst at Starboard Maritime Intelligence.

According to Douglas, the situation around the strait has become “impenetrable” over the past 48 hours.

The vessel clusters aren’t just large — they’re also forming unusual geometric patterns.

Tracking data shows:

These shapes are almost certainly artifacts caused by signal interference rather than real ship movements.

Still, their presence on tracking systems highlights the growing intensity of electronic warfare in the region.

The developments are especially alarming because they are occurring in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important energy corridors on Earth.

The narrow passage connects the Persian Gulf to global oil markets, and under normal conditions handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.

But the ongoing conflict has drastically reduced traffic.

According to maritime intelligence firm Windward, only five vessels crossed the strait on March 4, compared with 120 crossings just a week earlier on February 26.

That dramatic slowdown has already sent shockwaves through global energy markets.

Oil prices initially surged, pushing Brent crude close to $120 per barrel before easing slightly after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the conflict could end soon.

The scale of the electronic interference is enormous.

Windward estimates that more than 1,100 ships in the Persian Gulf have been impacted by GPS disruption since the conflict began.

Such jamming is a common tactic during periods of geopolitical tension, when militaries attempt to confuse enemy forces by distorting navigation signals.

However, the collateral impact on commercial shipping can be severe.

“Any vessel navigating the area clearly can’t rely on GPS right now,” Douglas warned.

That lack of reliable navigation data significantly raises the risk of collisions, grounding, or accidental entry into dangerous waters.

Some of the clusters may represent ships deliberately waiting outside the Strait of Hormuz, holding position in groups until tensions ease or they receive safe clearance to pass.

With missiles already targeting vessels and insurance premiums skyrocketing, many ship operators are unwilling to risk the passage.

The result is a growing backlog of tankers and cargo ships stranded near the Gulf’s entrance.

In an attempt to stabilize the situation, President Trump has floated several potential measures to restore confidence in the shipping route.

These include:

Trump has also hinted at more aggressive measures, telling CBS he was “thinking about taking it over,” though he did not clarify what specific action he meant.

The mysterious ship clusters are a stark reminder of how fragile global trade routes can become during geopolitical conflict.

With navigation systems disrupted, tankers under threat, and shipping traffic collapsing, the Strait of Hormuz — a corridor that powers much of the global economy — has effectively become a high-tech battlefield.

Until the electronic interference subsides and security returns to the region, ship captains navigating the Gulf may be forced to rely on old-fashioned seamanship rather than modern GPS technology.

For global energy markets and supply chains, the stakes could hardly be higher.