Larry Johnson

Role: Head of Freight
Affiliation: Mercuria Energy Group — major commodity trading house

Key Claims

Who Is Making Dark Transits

"They're mainly or exclusively government-owned ships that are making it through. These vessels seem to have channels of communication and means of securing safe passage somehow, some way."

  • Only government-owned or government-backed vessels can make the dark transits
  • Private commercial vessels cannot access the Omani route under current risk conditions
  • State insurance backstop (DFC $40B pool) and state communication channels with US military enable the transits

Institutional Context

Mercuria is one of the world's largest commodity trading houses. As head of freight, Johnson has direct insight into which vessels are actually moving, which routes are viable, and which shippers are participating in the dark fleet workaround.

Created: 2026-06-12