In article <ui8vv3$4og2$2@dont-email.me>

Oil tankers in the Red Sea are taking unusual actions amid the
Israel-Hamas war, shutting off their global tracking transponders —
called Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) — in an effort to
traverse the waters undetected.

“There’s been a big drop-off in tanker AIS signaling Israel as their
destination,” said Homayoun Falakshahi, senior oil analyst at global
trade intelligence firm Kpler. “In fact, we don’t see any crude-
carrying tankers doing so at the moment.”

The moves to evade detection come as shipping lines are also being
advised to wait further offshore with rocket attacks reported at the
ports of Ashdod and Eilat in Israel.

“Vessels calling Israel are advised to apply ballistic protection
measures,” global maritime risk management firm Ambrey wrote in a
note to clients on Saturday after a series of rocket sirens at the
Port of Ashdod. “In the event of a siren, crew members are advised
to take shelter.”

Ballistic protection can include a section of the vessel that has
armor or protective gear.

Falakshahi tells CNBC vessels are not only shutting off their
tracking systems while traveling but also in port as they unload
their crude or cargo.

He said data shows that the tanker Valfoglia discharged at the Port
of Haifa on October 24 while having its AIS signal off. “This is
unusual behavior and delays the information of a discharge,”
Falakshahi said.

Israeli authorities have advised the global shipping community that
they would be compensated for any war-related damages that occur
within the country’s economic waters. War risk surcharges for cargo
headed to Israel are now being added by some ocean carriers. So far,
no reports of attacks on oil tankers have been reported.

Israel has closed the Port of Ashkelon, the country’s biggest oil-
importing port, because of rocket attacks. As a result of the war,
activity at the Port of Ashdod has dropped dramatically, but the
Port of Haifa which is located further north remains stable.

The Port of Ashdod is a major hub for potash and bromine exports
from Israel. Potash is a key component in fertilizer. Bromine is a
raw material used in textiles, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, food
and beverage making, energy generation, construction, and
electronics. ICL Group, a major Israel-based manufacturing company
that produces fertilizers, chemicals and metals for the agriculture,
food and material sectors, provides around a third of global bromine
supply.

According to Everstream Analytics, a global supply chain mapping and
risk analytics company which contributes to the CNBC Supply Chain
Heat Map, the Port of Ashdod has become a transport linchpin for ICL
Group
in recent years. ICL has indicated the export of some chemical
goods will likely be delayed even if local manufacturers keep
operations running in the coming weeks.

“Rockets are regularly fired at the Port of Ashdod in southern
Israel, the country’s second biggest port,” said Mirko Woitzik,
global director at Everstream. Operations at Ashdod have also slowed
down due to staffing shortages, with 10% of workers recruited into
the Army, he added.

The number of waiting vessels on a daily basis has dropped at Port
of Ashdod to below five since the outbreak of war compared to more
than 15 on average before the war, according to Everstream.

“This suggests that container lines are avoiding the Port of Ashdod,
and potentially relying more on the Port of Haifa instead,” Woitzik
said.

Evergreen was the first ocean carrier to divert a vessel bound for
the Port of Ashdod citing a “persisting unsafe situation” and
declared force majeure. This is a significant declaration because if
more vessels declare force majeure, it could impact Israel’s food
supply. The ports of Ashdod and Haifa are the key ports for food
imports. The country imports almost three times as much food and
agriculture than exports. Key imports included live animals for
meat, sugar, vegetable oils, grain, and feed.

At the Port of Haifa, the number of vessels is expected to rise as
more ships are likely to divert to Haifa.

Recent rocket fire has tankers docking and discharging cargo at
alternative ports. Last week, the Seaviolet called the Port of Eilat
instead of its original destination, Ashkelon. Kpler tells CNBC its
analysis suggests Israelis have reversed the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline
flow so that oil can get to Ashkelon, and then to the Ashdod and
Haifa refineries, which are linked to Ashkelon via pipelines.

Falakshahi explained that due to Eilat’s location on the Red Sea,
ships can circumvent the conflict-ridden region close to Gaza,
passing through the Suez Canal and entering the Gulf of Aqaba.

“If this route is continued going forward, Israel could build its
crude stocks again and feed its domestic refineries again, therefore
preventing a potential energy crisis in the country, which has
inventories filled up to levels covering up to about 50 days of
domestic demand right now.”

Israel usually imports around 10-13 cargos of crude oil a month.

Last week, a long-range rocket was fired into Eilat and pierced the
Iron Dome, according to an Ambrey note sent to clients, and it said
the attack “indicates a change in Hamas’ operational activity, not
only targeting closer ports and cities en masse but also
specifically launching rockets at far away targets as the war nears
the end of its third week.”

Oil prices have pulled back in recent trading as some analysts say a
spike throughout the month already has priced in the risks, even as
the beginning of a ground offensive by Israel in Gaza leads to more
concerns about a disruption in global oil supplies.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/30/israel-hamas-war-and-rocket-
attacks-lead-oil-tankers-to-unusual-moves.html