India, March 11 -- As the Strait of Hormuz shuts to most legitimate tanker traffic, vessels in the global "shadow fleet" are still moving oil by operating outside normal rules.

The piece explains how global shipping relies on voluntary compliance, from flag registration and transponders to insurance and inspections.

It argues that sanctions, conflict and weak maritime enforcement have helped create a parallel oil trade that thrives in crisis.

The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. Since the beginning of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran on February 28, 2026, oil tanker traffic through the world's most critical oil shipping choke point has collapsed, dropping by more than 90 per cent.

Iran has threatened to...