Shadow Fleet Accounts For Majority Of Strait Of Hormuz Transits

Strategic Transits Under Siege

A tanker operated by Greece-based Dynacom Tankers Management exited the Middle East Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting limited activity among conventional oil carriers in the region. Transit volumes remain low as geopolitical tensions continue to affect shipping flows through one of the world’s key energy routes.

Mainstream Vs. Shadow Fleet Dynamics

Data from Lloyd’s List Intelligence show that the Malta-flagged suezmax Marathi arrived in India’s Gulf of Kutch on March 26. The vessel had previously transited the strait on February 28 and loaded 1 million barrels of crude from Ras Tanura. Marathi became the 10th non-shadow fleet tanker to exit the strait since March 8, indicating reduced activity among traditional operators.

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Control And Revenue Through The ‘Tehran Toll Booth’

Shipping data indicate that part of the traffic is being routed near Iranian-controlled waters around Larak Island. Industry sources describe this route as increasingly influenced by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Reports suggest some operators have faced pressure to comply with local conditions, including financial demands, although details vary across sources.

Dynacom’s Navigation Through Uncertain Waters

George Prokopiou said the transit was completed without payment and credited the crew’s actions. Another Dynacom vessel, Pola, has also completed passages through the area, reflecting continued operations despite elevated risks.

Broader Implications For Global Energy Supply

Around 20% of global oil shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making disruptions in the area significant for energy markets. Some vessels have reduced tracking visibility or adjusted routes, while activity linked to non-traditional fleets has increased.

Conclusion

Ongoing tensions in the region continue to affect shipping through key maritime routes. Activity by conventional tanker operators remains limited, while alternative fleets play a larger role in current transit flows. These conditions introduce operational risks and uncertainty for energy transport. Market participants continue to monitor developments that may affect supply flows and pricing.

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Meta Bets On AI To Strengthen Facebook’s Appeal Among Creators

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 25, 2026

Meta is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to strengthen Facebook’s appeal among creators, unveiling plans to transform Creator Studio into a standalone AI-powered companion app designed to simplify content management and audience growth.

An AI Assistant Built Around Creator Workflows

Announced on Wednesday, the new app is currently being tested with a select group of creators and incorporates Facebook’s recently launched AI creator assistant. According to Meta, the tool provides personalised recommendations based on a creator’s content, audience engagement, performance metrics and growth objectives.

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Rather than navigating multiple dashboards and analytics reports, creators will be able to ask questions directly in a conversational format. Queries such as when to post, how content is performing or what audiences are discussing in the comments can be answered through the assistant, with follow-up prompts offering deeper insights into engagement trends.

From Analytics To Action

Beyond reporting performance data, the platform is designed to help creators act on those insights. A new AI-powered comment management tool will identify priority interactions and suggest responses tailored to the creator’s tone and style. Suggested replies can be reviewed and edited before publication, allowing creators to maintain control over their communication while reducing the time spent managing engagement.

Daily recommendations will also be integrated into the app, highlighting key tasks such as reviewing recent content performance, tracking progress toward audience goals and responding to important comments. The aim is to turn Creator Studio into a more comprehensive productivity tool rather than a traditional analytics platform.

Why Meta Is Pushing Harder For Creators

The initiative comes as competition for creators intensifies across social media platforms. Facebook continues to compete with TikTok and YouTube for audience attention, making creator retention an increasingly important priority. By embedding AI more deeply into creator workflows, Meta is seeking to make content planning, performance analysis and community management easier without requiring users to rely on external tools.

Keeping more of those activities within Facebook’s ecosystem could help strengthen creator engagement while reducing dependence on third-party AI platforms for brainstorming, analytics and audience insights.

Part Of A Broader App Expansion Strategy

Wednesday’s announcement fits into a broader pattern of product launches from Meta. Last month, the company introduced Forum, a stand-alone app for Facebook Groups that functions similarly to Reddit. In April, it launched Instants, an app for sharing disappearing photos with Instagram friends.

The pipeline appears to be growing. The New York Times reported this week that Meta is also building a prediction-market app internally known as Arena, though it has not yet launched. Taken together, these products suggest a company that is increasingly comfortable spinning up focused apps around specific use cases instead of relying solely on its flagship platforms.

That approach aligns with comments CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly made to employees earlier this year, when he pointed to AI-driven efficiencies as a way for Meta to build more apps than it historically has. The message is clear: Meta is not just adding AI features. It is reorganizing product strategy around them.

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