Shipowners operating through the Strait of Hormuz face conflicting compliance demands after Iran blacklisted 45 vessels and threatened penalties for alleged breaches of its transit arrangements, while the United States warned against engaging with the Iranian authority administering the measures.
Iran’s newly formed Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) published 46 entries on its non-compliant vessel list, although these represent 45 individual ships. The tanker Vadin was listed twice under the same IMO number, including an entry under its former name, Lila Vadinar.
Context: Strait of Hormuz Intelligence File · Strait of Hormuz shipping guide · International Maritime Organization (IMO) · Strait of Hormuz
The blacklist includes VLCCs, product tankers, LNG and LPG carriers, containerships and bulk carriers. Vessels linked to ADNOC Logistics & Services and its Navig8 subsidiary, Bahri, Sinokor, Stolt-Nielsen, Klaveness Combination Carriers, Shipping Corporation of India, Dynacom and GasLog are among those named.
Related context: earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage
Operational context
ADNOC L&S has eight directly managed vessels on the list, the largest exposure identified in the source material. At least five ships are linked to Sinokor, while three are connected to Saudi Arabian state owner Bahri.
The PGSA warned that ships conducting ship-to-ship transfers, transhipment or other operations with blacklisted vessels could also be listed. Owners seeking to have a ship removed must apply to Iran’s maritime authorities and submit an explanation. Possible consequences for breaching Iranian protocols include fines, detention, cargo confiscation and restrictions on future passages.
The authority did not provide vessel-specific details of the alleged violations. Tehran has previously sought Iranian clearance from ships transiting the strait and demanded payment for navigation, security, insurance and other services. Draft provisions approved by an Iranian parliamentary committee would also permit charges for navigation, environmental, bunkering, insurance and safety services.
The measures create a direct sanctions risk because the US sanctioned the PGSA in May, alleging that the IRGC-backed organisation was operating an extortion scheme targeting commercial shipping. Updated guidance from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control said US and non-US companies could face sanctions for accepting PGSA services or responding to its requests for information, even if no payment is made.
Washington has also widened the potential reach of secondary sanctions to shipping and four other sectors. Nearly 60 Iran-linked companies, individuals and vessels were targeted, including the ships Sifra, G Silver, Quantum Hope, Voyage Elite and Tela, which the US accused of transporting Iranian oil and petroleum products.
SEB analysts identified the sector-wide shipping designation and its secondary-sanctions scope as the more significant escalation. They said it could give the US Treasury greater capacity to pursue Chinese buyers, brokers and ship-to-ship transfer networks involved in moving Iranian cargoes, although the market impact would depend on enforcement and any resulting change in trade flows.
Separately, UN secretary-general António Guterres has sought support for a confidence-building mechanism intended to keep essential cargoes moving through maritime chokepoints. The proposed system would initially cover fertilisers and related raw materials through ship registration, verification and a deconfliction mechanism in Oman, subject to agreement among the countries involved.