Iran Shipping Update – November 9, 2026

The maritime security environment across the region remains highly volatile. Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continue to disrupt maritime traffic, while Iran-backed Houthi threats and attacks around the Bab el-Mandeb pose a renewed risk to shipping through the Red Sea. Meanwhile, the U.S. maritime blockade on Iranian ports continues to severely constrain the regime’s oil exports.

For UANI’s recommendations for U.S. sanctions on Iran following “Economic D-Day,” read here.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has confirmed 131 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. According to the IMO, these incidents have resulted in 25 seafarer deaths.  UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has recorded more attacks that have yet to be verified by the IMO.

On November 8, satellite imagery showed a large plume of smoke in the Strait of Hormuz. This is most likely the aftermath of a tanker strike that caused a fire onboard and forced the evacuation of the crew.

Vessel attack in the Strait of Hormuz on November 8 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

In the past months, an increasing number of vessels have transited the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz bidirectionally without broadcasting AIS location data, with many of these movements facilitated by U.S. forces. U.S.-facilitated transits through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 30.3 vessels per day with 91 transits recorded during the latest 72-hour period (November 5–7). This brings the month-to-date November total to 217 transits across 7 days at 31.0 per day and lifting the cumulative campaign total to 3,306 transits at an overall average of 23.4 per day across 141 monitored days.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Departing the Gulf of Oman

Tankers laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals are currently clustering in anchorages along the Iranian coastline due to the reinstatement of the blockade. Since the blockade resumed, approximately 11 small tankers carrying Iranian LPG have successfully passed the blockade line. However, UANI has not tracked any tanker laden with Iranian crude oil that has successfully 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 56 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 November 9 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the U.S. reinstated the blockade on July 14, UANI has tracked at least 56 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, only eight of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. 

Iran-Linked Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf, particularly in the waters near Malaysia. At least 17 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering north of the EOPL anchorage with their AIS signals active. These tankers most likely departed the anchorage due to the purported recent enforcement actions of the Malaysian maritime authorities. Meanwhile, about 19 tankers listed on UANI’s Ghost Armada remain loitering in the EOPL anchorage, demonstrating that Ghost Fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes.

The EOPL is a hotspot for ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of Iranian crude, as well as other sanctioned oils. Today, one STS was spotted taking place among the Ghost Armada tankers in the EOPL anchorage. 

STS transfer in the EOPL anchorage on November 9 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Google Maps)

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Despite ongoing pressure of OFAC sanctions and new constraints of the blockade, approximately 50 Iranian-flagged cargo ships continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, North Sea, and Baltic Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels across the region on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Danish Straits, the container ship ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) departed Bronka Port, near St. Petersburg, on November 7, after several days of cargo operations. It is now headed back to Port Said and the Suez Canal.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Danish Straits on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) arrived and anchored near St. Petersburg, Russia, from Mumbai. It will likely pull into Bronka Port for cargo operations.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near St. Petersburg on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Mediterranean Sea, the container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) approached the vicinity of Malta, after departing Port Said on November 7. Its new destination is Bronka Port, with an estimated arrival on November 18.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Mediterranean on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At Libya, the container ship BASHT (IMO 9346536) departed Benghazi on November 8, sailed to Misrata, and anchored.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in Libya on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Near the maritime boundary of Turkish and Greek waters, the general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) remained anchored after drifting and loitering in the vicinity of Tenedos Island, near the entrance to the Turkish Straits, since October 23. The vessel remains likely to transit the Turkish Straits toward a Russian port, though its departure is likely delayed awaiting more favorable security conditions amid ongoing risk of drone strikes in the Black Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near the Turkish Straits on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Off the coast of Kenya, the container ship SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) arrived from Kandla, India, and loitered offshore Mombasa. Meanwhile, three cargo ships—NESHAT (IMO 9167277), GOLSAN (9165815), and HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271)—remained anchored at Lamu, Kenya.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Mombasa on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship SHIBA (IMO 9270646) has continued to loiter in international waters off Chennai, India, since November 4 following its transit from Port Klang, Malaysia. FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) arrived near the Gulf of Kutch, while DAISY (IMO 9270684) and VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524) continued to anchor near Kandla. ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) is en route to Kandla, with an estimated arrival on November 20.

In the Malacca Strait, the container ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) arrived and anchored off Belawan, Indonesia, after visiting Port Klang for cargo operations on November 7. Meanwhile, VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) arrived at Port Klang’s anchorage from the EOPL.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the Malacca Strait on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At the Malaysian EOPL, 20 Iranian-flagged cargo ships were located in the anchorage: 

AMINA (IMO 9305192), ANDIA (IMO 9193197), ARDAVAN (IMO 9465863), ARIES (IMO 9369722), ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007), ARTIN (IMO 9305221), ARZIN (IMO 9284142), BAHJAT (IMO 9405954), BARZIN (IMO 9820269), BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978), DARYABAR (IMO 9369710), GANJ (IMO 9305219), GOLAFRUZ (IMO 9323833), KASHAN (IMO 9270696), PARISAN (IMO 9465851), PARNIA (IMO 9167265), RADIN (IMO 9820257), RAYEN (IMO 9820245), ARTENOS (IMO 9283021), and ELYANA (IMO 9165827). The container ship ARTENOS arrived from Zhuhai. Meanwhile, the general cargo ship ELYANA re-emerged on AIS anchored at the EOPL. The vessel was last observed at Misrata, Libya, in April and had been dark to AIS tracking since. Most of these vessels will likely remain in the EOPL while the blockade is in force, receiving regular logistics support from Malaysian service providers, despite the risk of secondary sanctions from OFAC.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the EOPL on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

The container ship NADIA (IMO 9122461) approached Jakarta after transiting the Java Sea from Port Klang. The vessel is expected to arrive in Jakarta tomorrow.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Jakarta on November 9 (Credit: Marine Traffic)