22 Tankers Observed at Kharg Island Anchorage

Satellite tracking recorded 22 tankers inside the anchorage at Iran's Kharg Island on May 17. Of those vessels, six were empty of cargo. Observers identified the empty tankers by comparing their movements and the length of their hull shadows. Empty tankers sit higher in the water and cast thicker shadows than loaded vessels.

The data came from continuous monitoring of ship positions and visual analysis of hull submersion. This approach allows observers to determine cargo status without direct inspection. The same method has been used to follow tanker activity at other locations in the region.