Windward Maritime AI Tracks Hormuz Crisis — GPS Jamming Hits 1,650+ Vessels as Strait Traffic Falls to Zero

Windward's Maritime AI platform is providing real-time operational intelligence as the Strait of Hormuz experiences its most severe disruption in modern commercial shipping history — with the platform tracking 1,650+ vessels experiencing GPS and AIS interference on March 7 alone, representing a 55% increase from the previous week. The AI-powered system has identified at least 30 jamming clusters across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Iran, with ships' AIS positions being thrown into zig-zag patterns across multiple false locations. Historic traffic cessation: On March 14, commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to zero — the first complete cessation since the conflict began — with no AIS-confirmed crossings in either direction. Approximately 400 vessels were detected holding position in the Gulf of Oman rather than rerouting globally, suggesting operators are waiting for the corridor to reopen rather than permanently diverting. Meanwhile, Cape of Good Hope transits have surged sharply, Suez Canal volumes have declined, and Bab el-Mandeb remains active — demonstrating global shipping route redistribution in real time. Dark fleet intelligence: Windward's remote sensing intelligence has detected evidence of dark transits — vessels switching off AIS to traverse the Strait under extremely high-risk conditions. In one case, a tanker carrying approximately one million barrels of crude appeared to complete a five-day dark passage through the Strait, exploiting elevated freight premiums. The platform's multi-source intelligence — combining AIS data, satellite imagery, and behavioural analytics — provides the layered visibility that single-source tracking cannot deliver in contested waters. Why this matters for ship managers: The Hormuz crisis demonstrates maritime AI operating at wartime scale. For commercial operators, Windward's platform delivers the actionable intelligence needed to assess route risk, evaluate sanctions exposure, monitor fleet positioning, and make informed chartering decisions when the traditional navigation environment has fundamentally broken down. The crisis also highlights the growing operational dependence on AI-powered maritime domain awareness as a critical decision-making tool. [Windward / Windward March 15]

This story is part of the Maritime AI Digest of 22 March 2026.