Iran Shipping Update – August 10, 2026

The security situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains highly volatile. Following the collapse of the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the reinstatement of a U.S. blockade, Iran has targeted commercial shipping and Gulf States, while Tehran’s Yemeni Houthi partners threaten to expand the maritime conflict in the Red Sea.

U.S. Blockade and Sanctions

On July 14 at 4 p.m. ET, U.S. forces reimposed the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas while supporting compliant traffic in regional waters. As of August 9, U.S. forces have redirected 55 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn't comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.

Houthi Blockade

On July 20, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabian ports. On August 4, Indian-registered vessel MSV FAIZE NOORE OLIYA was struck by an unknown projectile in the Red Sea and capsized; all 14 crew, including 13 Indian nationals, were rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard. The incident, attributed to a Houthi attack in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, highlights the continued threat to commercial shipping transiting the southern Red Sea despite the broader focus on attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Houthi threats and attacks against Saudi-linked shipping are already prompting some tankers, but not all, to reroute in the Red Sea. Rising insecurity in the Red Sea has caused a drop in tanker transits through Bab el-Mandeb of roughly 40% since the Houthis declared their blockade, according to data published by Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC). Numerous tankers have been observed broadcasting “CHINESE OWNER” or “ARMED GUARD ON BOARD” as their destination during the transit of the Bab el-Mandeb, likely to help prevent being targeted.

In addition, the Houthis are reportedly considering charging most vessels to cross Bab el-Mandeb, with Chinese-flagged ships exempted under a separate safe-passage understanding already in place.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 66 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. On 8 August, an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) tanker was targeted by an Iranian missile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The incident follows 15 reported attacks on ADNOC vessels by missiles and drones since the conflict began in February, including three in the preceding week, underscoring the continuing threat to commercial shipping in the Strait.

Prior to the outbreak of the Iran War, about 138 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. Throughout the conflict, marine traffic data showed large clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many ships refraining from transiting due to safety concerns. After the signing of the MoU, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported an increase in open transits through the Strait of Hormuz. On June 24, JMIC recorded 54 transits, the highest daily total since the outbreak of the conflict. As of August 8, JMIC has reported a total of 781 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the date of the signing of the MoU.  

Open transits of commercial vessels through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz declined following the IRGC strikes on commercial shipping starting July 7 but have not ceased entirely. Since the strikes, the traffic has been dominated by Iranian- and Chinese-linked vessels transiting via the northern corridor.

Strait of Hormuz corridors on August 10 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Departing the Gulf of Oman

Since the announcement of the MoU on June 14, UANI has tracked 66 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 80 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $6 billion for the IRGC, which continues to fund Iran’s missile and drone programs. These figures are estimates. The pricing and volumes associated with Chinese purchases of Iranian crude are not publicly disclosed, though such cargoes are widely assessed to be sold at a discount of around 10 to 12 dollars per barrel.

Tankers laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals are currently clustering in anchorages along the Iranian coastline due to the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. UANI has not tracked any tanker laden with Iranian crude oil that has departed the Gulf of Oman and avoided enforcement actions by U.S. forces since July 12, before the blockade was reinstated. 

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 50 tankers laden with Iranian oil — primarily crude, but also other petroleum products and LPG — currently operating along the Iranian coastline.

Positions of tankers laden with Iranian oil on August 10 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 36 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, 13 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. 

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the signing of the MoU, 26 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the EOPL anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. All these Iranian tankers are expected to conduct STS transfers in the EOPL, and 16 of these STS transfers have been observed in satellite imagery.

There are 10 Iran-flagged tankers currently in the EOPL: HUMANITY (IMO 9180281), DREAM II (IMO 9356593), STARLA (IMO 9569621), HILDA I (IMO 9357389), DAN (9357729), HALTI (IMO 9212890), HAPPINESS I (IMO 9212905), STREAM (IMO 9569633), HEDY (IMO 9212888) and DORENA (IMO 9569669). They have all previously passed the Singapore Strait and have since stopped broadcasting their location on AIS.

On August 8, HERO II (IMO 9362073) departed the Malaysian EOPL and joined SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), SNOW (IMO 9569619), HELM (IMO 9357391), DUNE (IMO 9569712), DEEP SEA (IMO 9218492), DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), SONIA I (IMO 9357365), DORE (IMO 9357717), HERBY (IMO 9362059), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), HENNA (IMO 9212929), AMBER (IMO 9357406) and DIONA (IMO 9569695) as the Iran-flagged tankers that have departed from the EOPL in ballast after completing STS transfers. STARLA also left the EOPL empty, conducted another STS with the Iran-flagged tanker DEEP SEA in the Malacca Strait, and has since returned to the EOPL laden with Iranian crude, bringing the total to sixteen Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL empty since the signing of the MoU.

Iran-flagged tanker transiting Southeast Asian sea lanes from August 8 to 10

(Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-flagged HUGE (IMO 9357183) has also departed the EOPL anchorage. This tanker had been loitering unladen in the EOPL anchorage for over two weeks after conducting an STS transfer of Iranian crude south of Hong Kong in the South China Sea on July 9. It is most likely headed to the Galle anchorage to join the other Iran-flagged tankers in ballast.

These departing Iran-flagged tankers are now heading to anchorages across the Indo-Pacific rather than back to Iranian ports because of the U.S. blockade. DIONA was last observed loitering offshore Duqm, Oman in satellite imagery on August 4, while 12 empty Iran-flagged tankers are currently anchored of Galle, Sri Lanka. Namely, DIAMOND II, DEEP SEA, DUNE, DINO I, SONIA I, HERBY, SEVIN, AMBER, HENNA, FELICITY, HUGE and DORE.

On August 10, at least 48 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering near the EOPL area with their AIS signals active, demonstrating that Ghost Fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes. 

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Despite ongoing pressure of U.S. OFAC sanctions, and new constraints of the U.S. Blockade on Iranian ports, approximately 50 Iranian flagged cargo ships continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, and the eastern Mediterranean.  

Iran-flagged cargo vessels across the region on August 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The laden bulk carrier BATIS (IMO 9465760) remained anchored at the OPL anchorage near Karachi, Pakistan today. BATIS will likely now loiter in the Karachi OPL, after previously turning around in the Gulf of Oman, due to the U.S. Blockade. 

After previously visiting a Russian port on the Black Sea and then Mumbai, NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) joined two other Iran-flagged container ships SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) and VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) in the Indian Gulf of Kutch and anchored near Kandla Port. VELON 1 and NYRA 2 are broadcasting on AIS under different flags, although listed in the official IMO GISIS database as registered under the Iranian flag. Meanwhile, ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) and ARTAM (IMO 9284154) are each anchored outside the entrance of the Gulf of Kutch. 

Iran-flagged cargo ships near the Gulf of Kutch on August 10

(Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

The container ship RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) briefly stopped offshore Galle, Sri Lanka for logistics support, then proceeded int the Laccadive Sea, heading to Kandla, India.

The container ships ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) and ZYRA (IMO 9237084) both transited past Banda Aceh, Indonesia and into the Malacca Strait with their destinations listed as Port Klang, Malaysia on August 11.

At Port Klang, Malaysia, the container ships DAISY (IMO 9270684), SHIBA (IMO 9270646) and ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) remain in the anchorage area. The container ship VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524) arrived at Port Klang on August 9, after briefly stopping in the Malaysian EOPL. Its previous port visit was in the Russian Baltic.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels at Port Klang on August 10 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

The bulk carrier DELNAVAZ (IMO 9387803) is sailing north in the Malacca Strait, after departing the EOPL, with its destination listed as Phuket, Thailand.  

Iran-flagged cargo vessels in the Malacca Strait on August 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Much like the previous U.S. blockade, Iran-flagged cargoes are clustering in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage. The bulk carrier AMINA (IMO 9305192), container ships BASHT (IMO 9346536) and HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271) and the general cargo ship PARNIA (IMO 9167265) remain anchored in the Malaysian EOPL area. Meanwhile, GOLAFRUZ (IMO 9323833) joins GANJ (IMO 9305219) and BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) and anchored north of the EOPL. 

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the Malaysian EOPL on August 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Meanwhile, the general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) departed Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, on the Johor Strait, near Singapore, bound for Haiphong, Vietnam after recently visiting Belawan, Indonesia, and Port Klang. While in Pasir Gudang, it visited the Johor Port Container Terminal, and its agent was Compass Shipping Agencies Sdn Bhd. Both companies risk secondary sanctions by US Treasury Department OFAC.

The bulk cargo ship ARDAVAN (IMO 9465863) approached Songkhla, Thailand, in ballast condition, after previously departing Dafeng, China.  PARISAN (IMO 9465851) is in the South China Sea near Hainan Island, also reporting its destination as Songkhla with an estimated arrival of August 15.

At Zhuhai, the cargo ship RAYEN (IMO 9820245), pulled into the container terminal on August 9, after previously departing Shanghai. The container ships RADIN (IMO 9820257) and ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) remained anchored just south of the Gaolan Island in Zhuhai, China. 

Five cargo ships continue to loiter near the Taiwan Strait. They are all likely evading Typhoon Dolphin, which made landfall south of Shanghai. They may return to the vicinity of Shanghai, when the weather clears.

BAHJAT (IMO 9405954) and ANDIA (IMO 9193197) are transiting the South China Sea southbound after possible transshipment operations in Liuheng Port near Zhoushan, China. They are both bound for Singapore but will most likely head to the Malaysian EOPL.

Four Iran-flagged cargo ships are anchored off the Chinese coastline in the Yellow and Bohai Seas. The bulk carrier ARTIN (IMO 9305221) departed today in ballast condition, listing its destination as Bandar Abbas, Iran, although it will likely stop at the Malaysian EOPL.

In the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Iran-flagged general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) remained anchored outside Benghazi, Libya. Libya is under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026). 

After loitering about 95 nm north of Benghazi for over 10 days and possibly collecting intelligence on transiting U.S. and European naval forces in the Mediterranean, the container ship SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) is transiting the Mediterranean Sea westbound with its destination listed as Bronka Port, Russia.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Mediterranean Sea on August 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Near Suez Canal, the container ship FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) remains loitering south of the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, AYSAN (IMO 9165803) is anchored at Port Said at the north end of the Suez Canal after departing Misrata, Libya. The container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590), which previously departed the Russian port of Bronka in the Russian Baltic, transited the Suez Canal south into the Red Sea, with its new destination listed as Shanghai with an estimated arrival of August 28. 

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Red Sea on August 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)