During the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, declining reported maritime traffic did not reflect all activity at sea. In a new case study, Unseenlabs presents findings from its satellite observations, conducted through three to four radio frequency (RF) collections per day across the area. Between March 7 and 8, 2026, the proportion of RF detections without matching automatic identification system (AIS) positions rose from approximately 1.8% to 12%.

Maritime activity beyond AIS visibility

A strategic passage for global trade, the Strait of Hormuz has experienced major disruptions since the conflict escalated in late February 2026. Attacks on vessels, restrictions on passage, and changing shipping routes have made maritime monitoring increasingly challenging.

On March 7, Unseenlabs recorded 555 correlations between RF detections and vessel AIS positions. By the following morning, that number had fallen to 228, while the number of RF emitters without matching AIS positions had roughly tripled.…