Tanker collision near the Strait of Hormuz involved a ship Ukraine designated as member of Russia’s “shadow fleet”

Two oil tankers collided near the Strait of Hormuz on June 17 amid reports of rising electronic interference affecting maritime navigation in the region.

The UAE Coast Guard reported evacuating 24 crew members from the oil tanker Adalynn after its collision with the Front Eagle in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, the Front Eagle's operator, Norwegian company Frontline, confirmed that a fire broke out on its deck but said the crew was safe and that there were no signs of oil leakage.

The Insider was able to confirm that Ukrainian military intelligence designated the Adalynn (IMO 9231767) on a list of ships making up the so-called “shadow fleet.” The ship is allegedly used to covertly transport Russian oil from the port of Ust-Luga in violation of international sanctions and of the $60-per-barrel oil price cap introduced in 2022 by the G7 countries, the EU, and Australia. Ukraine said the vessel employed tactics like disabling AIS tracking in order to avoid detection.

Tracking service TankerTrackers.com reported that the Front Eagle was carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil bound for China. The Adalynn, a Suezmax-class tanker owned by India-based Global Shipping Holding Ltd., was unladen and en route to the Suez Canal.

Maritime security firm Ambrey stated the incident occurred 22 nautical miles (40.7 km) east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE. A Bloomberg report citing one of the company's analysts said the cause of the collision was not security-related. The Bloomberg report also cited NASA satellite imagery to confirm both tankers caught fire.

Initial reports from Reuters and Bloomberg incorrectly stated that three tankers were involved, but both outlets later revised their accounts.

According to MarineTraffic data, the Adalynn sails under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, while the Front Eagle is registered in Liberia. Both ships were located in the Gulf of Oman at the time of the collision, which reportedly occurred around 21:00 UTC.

The incident follows a June 16 advisory from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) warning of increasing electronic interference — especially GPS jamming and AIS spoofing — across the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. These disruptions can cause vessels to transmit incorrect locations, potentially leading to navigation errors and collisions.

Tracking services have documented active signal interference, showing erratic AIS data, including sudden jumps of vessels onto land or zigzagging paths along coastlines — which are hallmarks of GPS jamming or spoofing.

The UKMTO alert comes amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. On June 14, a member of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy said Tehran was considering closing the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint through which nearly one-quarter of the world’s oil and one-third of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments move.

NASA FIRMS satellite data also confirmed fires on both tankers, recording thermal anomalies with radiative power of 6.5 MW and 7.78 MW, indicating serious blazes. As of 11:00 UTC on June 17, the fires were still active.

The Black Sea Strategy Institute Telegram channel published video footage showing the Adalynn engulfed in flames.

The Front Eagle, which sails under the Liberian flag with valid registration, is owned by a company registered in the Marshall Islands.

The Adalynn, which is suspected of involvement in Russia’s “shadow fleet,” is 23 years old and registered in Antigua and Barbuda. Its registration is valid, according to S&P Global, and its owner is listed as a company based in India. The vessel had reportedly been loitering in the Gulf since May 1 before moving on June 17.

The “shadow fleet” refers to a large group of ageing and poorly insured oil tankers that are used to secretly transport Russian crude and petroleum products around the world — often in violation of Western sanctions and the G7/EU oil price cap imposed after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Many of these ships are owned by shell companies in jurisdictions with lax regulatory oversight. Ships in the shadow fleet typically sail under flags of convenience — such as Liberia, Panama, or Antigua and Barbuda — to avoid scrutiny and regulatory compliance.

Much of the oil carried by the shadow fleet is destined for countries not participating in the sanctions regime against Russia, most notably China, India, and Turkey.

A March 2025 investigation by The Insider showed that ships leaving Russian oil terminals in the Baltic are being lightened in European waters, implying that they also deliver oil to EU member states — despite a ban on importing Russian oil into Europe by sea. European ship owners are also involved in these schemes.