As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, two tankers collided near the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil transport route globally. There are concerns about a potential connection with the recent GPS disturbances detected near Iran.
According to Reuters and Bloomberg, at around 12:15 a.m. local time on the 17th, the large tanker "Front Eagle," owned by the Norwegian company Frontline, collided with the small tanker "Adalin" near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Immediately after the collision, a fire broke out on the decks of both vessels but was quickly extinguished. All 24 crew members aboard the Adalin were rescued by the UAE Coast Guard, and Frontline stated that all of their crew members are safe. No environmental damage, such as oil spills, has been reported.
Frontline has stated that an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing and that there is no confirmation of any external interference.
However, there is an analysis suggesting that the GPS disturbances occurring in the waters near Iran may be a cause of the incident. The Financial Times reported that the Front Eagle exhibited unusual signs, including shifting several kilometers in the maritime positioning system, starting the day before the accident.
Sal Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University in the U.S., noted in an interview with the Financial Times that "the Front Eagle made a sudden turn toward the Adalin just before the accident," and pointed out that "the GPS disturbance likely affected the autopilot operation." He added, "If someone is manipulating GPS or the Automatic Identification System (AIS) in this area, the vessels can no longer rely on GPS."
In fact, numerous vessels navigating near the Strait of Hormuz have recently reported GPS error signals. The Financial Times noted that there have been observations of hundreds of vessels and aircraft locations displayed as "vessels spinning" or "vessels on land."
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), led by U.S. forces, has also reported severe signal interference near the Strait of Hormuz and Bandar Abbas port in Iran. The center has advised vessels passing through these waters to navigate using radar and visual observation.
Experts believe that Iran has initiated extensive electronic warfare operations to disrupt Israel's precise strikes. Thomas Withington, an electronic warfare expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in the U.K., warned that "the signals interfering with civilian vessel GPS receivers and mobile phones are clearly irresponsible actions."