Tanker El Gaia hit in the Strait of Hormuz was operating in ‘dark mode’

According to a report from The Hindu, the oil tanker El Gaia, which was recently targeted in the Strait of Hormuz, was operating in 'dark mode' at the time of the incident. Dark mode refers to the practice of disabling a vessel's Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder, which obscures its location and movements from public tracking services. Photos of the vessel taken on September 13 reportedly show visible damage to the ship's engine room.

The tanker was reportedly carrying a crew of 25 individuals, consisting of 14 Indian nationals and 11 Pakistani nationals. The incident follows a series of maritime security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Earlier reports from international news wires confirmed that two sailors were missing following a tanker attack in the same region, highlighting the ongoing volatility for commercial shipping in the area.

Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack and the vessel's operational status. The use of dark mode is often associated with attempts to bypass sanctions or avoid detection in high-risk zones. As of now, there has been no official statement regarding the specific group or entity responsible for the strike on the El Gaia, though the event has prompted renewed calls for increased maritime security patrols in the Strait.