Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has been discreetly utilizing its own fleet to ship oil and gas out of the Persian Gulf, effectively evading both the Iranian navy and U.S. naval vessels to deliver supplies to energy-strapped customers.

According to tracking data, traders, and informed sources, ADNOC has become one of the most successful producers in the Middle East at moving hydrocarbons out of the region, employing tactics such as "dark operations"—where vessels turn off their transponders while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

During the nearly three-month-long conflict, other Middle Eastern producers and Western commodity traders have also managed to ship cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz, but most have relied on chartered tankers, which are constrained by shipowners' risk appetites.

In contrast, ADNOC has been using vessels controlled by Navig8, which is majority-owned by ADNOC's shipping and logistics division, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity as the information is not public. These vessels include crude and product tankers as well as gas carriers.

This risky move underscores the urgency felt by oil-producing nations as they race to bring supplies to market, partly due to their limited storage capacity. The United Arab Emirates' formal exit from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on May 1 further highlights its pressing concerns.

"Given the UAE's departure from OPEC and efforts to move vessels in the dark through the Strait of Hormuz, ADNOC has been willing to take on greater risks to get oil out," said Matt Wright, a senior shipping analyst at intelligence firm Kpler.

A spokesperson for ADNOC Logistics & Services stated that, in line with company policy, they could not comment on the location, movements, or routing of their vessels. ADNOC referred inquiries to ADNOC L&S.