Iran War Shipping Update - May 14, 2026

Since the start of the Iran War on February 28, Iran’s “Ghost Fleet” continues active operations—loading cargo, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and sailing east toward China—though the U.S. blockade may now be restricting exports. UANI tracking shows ongoing illicit maritime activity. An ongoing U.S. blockade initiated on April 13 targets vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports and those carrying sanctioned or contraband oil but does not apply to all Iran-linked ships. U.S. forces focus primarily on large VLCC tankers rather than smaller carriers.

To read UANI’s full statement on FAQs and keys facts about the U.S. blockade, click here.

To read UANI's statement, released today, on why U.S. pressure on Iran's oil exports is working, click here

On May 14, U.S. CENTCOM posts that U.S. forces have redirected 70 commercial ships and disabled 4 to prevent ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports since the commencement of the blockade. 

U.S. CENTCOM update on the U.S. blockade on May 14 (Credit: U.S. CENTCOM/X)

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint in the Iran War. Since the start of the conflict, 42 confirmed maritime incidents involving commercial vessels and offshore infrastructure have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. 

The escalating risk has created severe congestion and instability across the Persian Gulf’s shipping lanes. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, about 138 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. Since March 1, 2026, marine traffic data shows growing clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many refraining from transiting due to safety concerns.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Inside the U.S. Blockade

UANI has identified at least 55 tankers laden with Iranian oil — primarily crude — currently operating in Iranian waters, inside the U.S. blockade line from the Iranian-Pakistan border to the most eastern point of Oman. 

Map of Iranian oil laden tankers inside the U.S. blockade on May 14

Iran-linked Vessels at Chabahar Port, Iran

Iran-linked tankers are loitering and anchoring outside of the Persian Gulf at Chabahar Port, Iran. On May 14, 11 Iran-flagged tankers, as well as two Ghost Armada vessels, all laden with Iranian oil, were observed in satellite imagery near Chabahar Port. Numerous Iran-flagged and Iranian oil-laden tankers that have attempted to cross the blockade departed from Chabahar Port, with eightof these returning to port in response to a variety of U.S. enforcement actions. On the satellite image below, white squares denote Iran‑flagged tankers; white circles denote stateless Ghost Armada vessels.

Tankers laden with Iranian oil near Chabahar on May 14 (Credit: EOS Land viewer)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the outbreak of the conflict, UANI has tracked at least 70 Iranian oil loadings, 41 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. These shipments represent approximately 82 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $6 billion for the IRGC, which continues to fund Iran’s active missile and drone programs central to the conflict. This figure is notably higher than usual given the sharp increase in oil prices, including Iranian crude.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Globally

The falsely flagged Aframax tanker ATOMIS (IMO 9194139), also known as DIVIT, passed the U.S. blockade on April 13, according to its AIS signal. The tanker was laden with Iranian crude oil from Kharg Island and according to its AIS is now anchored south of Hong Kong. Today, satellite imagery appears to confirm its location. 

Tanker laden with Iranian oil in the South China Sea (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the conflict began, at least 32 Iran-flagged tankers have reached Southeast Asian waters bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. 

Today, Iran flagged tanker HUGE (IMO 9357183), laden with Iranian crude, appears to be transiting the South China Sea northbound according to satellite imagery. This tanker likely departed Iran, laden with oil bound for China, after the imposition of the U.S. blockade, and likely took an uneconomical route via the Lombok Strait in Indonesia on May 3 with its AIS signal on. The tanker had previously loaded at Kharg Island on March 31, and departed from Chabahar on April 14, and was spotted near Galle, Sri Lanka on April 23. This marks a significant new operational pattern. Rather than transiting the Malacca and Singapore Straits, these tankers departed Iran, laden with oil bound for China, and likely took an uneconomical route through the Indian Ocean and the Lombok Strait in order to avoid interdiction by U.S. naval forces. HUGE now appears to be heading to a known STS location south of Hong Kong; while that spot has been used for transfers of Iranian crude before, Iran‑flagged tankers in this location represents another new operational pattern.

Iranian flagged tanker transiting the South China Sea on May 13 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Another Iran flagged tanker TOUR 2 (IMO 9364112), also known as KARIZ, departed the EOPL, reporting laden and broadcasting its AIS, on May 11. This unusual pattern of movement for an Iran flagged OFAC-sanctioned tanker has been confirmed by satellite imagery today. Despite being anchored in the EOPL for over two weeks, this laden tanker transited the South China Sea northbound on May 12 and has since stopped broadcasting its location on AIS.

Iran flagged tanker departing the EOPL on May 12 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

Meanwhile, at least 34 Iran-flagged tankers have begun returning and reporting empty to Iran from the Malaysian EOPL anchorage and Southeast Asian sea lanes, since the start of the conflict.

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

From February 28, the start of the conflict, to today, UANI has recorded 43 STS transfers of Iranian oil in the EOPL anchorage, a ghost fleet hotspot approximately 70 km off Malaysia’s coast. All of these transshipments have been spotted in satellite imagery.

Today, an STS transfer of Iranian crude took place in this anchorage. The feeder in this STS was the Iran flagged tanker DERYA (IMO 9569700) who had been observed in satellite imagery in the EOPL on May 11. Like HUGE, DERYA also took the uneconomical route through the Indian Ocean and the Lombok Strait in order to avoid interdiction by U.S. naval forces. DERYA had previously appeared in the Gulf of Kutch, attempting to deliver Iranian oil at Sikka, India but departed on April 19. 

STS transfer of Iranian crude in the EOPL (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

On May 14, 24 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 US OFAC sanctions, approximately 30 Iranian-flagged vessels continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Enhanced pressure from the enforcement of the US blockade on Iran and disrupted access to Iranian ports appears to be affecting vessel schedules and operations on a large scale. This has contributed to increased instances of ships pausing and waiting in clusters at anchorages across the region.

Iran flagged cargo vessels across the Indo-Pacific on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

On May 14, there were no changes to the multiple Iranian flagged tankers and cargo vessels that continued to anchor offshore of Karachi, Pakistan. ARIES (IMO 9369722), MAHNAM (IMO 9213387), DELRUBA (IMO 9305207), WARTA (IMO 9465849),and PARNIA (IMO 9167265) were openly broadcasting on AIS, while anchored about 70km offshore. The tankers STREAM (IMO 9569633), HERBY (IMO 9362059) and SOBAR (IMO 9221970) also anchored nearby, outside territorial waters. Finally, the container ship TOUSKA (IMO 9328900) was anchored just 16 km outside Karachi port, inside Pakistani territorial waters. All of these Iran flagged vessels are OFAC sanctioned.

Iran flagged cargo vessels near Karachi, Pakistan on May 11 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

On May 14, the Iran flagged container ship ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007), still drifting in the Arabian Sea approximately 250 km offshore of the Indian Coast, crossed back into the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) form the Pakistan side. ARTABAZ departed Mumbai on April 19, after unknown cargo operations. It is possible that the ARTABAZ is loitering in this area conducting maritime surveillance in a picket pattern, as this is a highly unusual behavior for a container ship transporting routine cargo. 

Iran flagged container ship drifting in Arabian Sea on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The OFAC sanctioned, Iran flagged container ship ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) continued to loiter at anchor in the Gulf of Kutch, outside Kandla, India. The vessel has been anchored for over three weeks since it conducted unknown cargo operations in Kandla Terminal from April 18-19. 

ran flagged container ship anchored in Gulf of Kutch on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic)Iran flagged container ship anchored in Gulf of Kutch on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran flagged general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) and containership RADIN (IMO 9820257) continued to remain anchored off Port Klang, Malaysia, inside Malaysian territorial waters; both vessels are OFAC sanctioned. AREZOO conducted unknown cargo operations in Port Klang on April 17-18, and in Penang on April 15-16. RADIN arrived at the anchorage on May 5, after conducting unknown cargo ops in Zhuhai, China, on April 24-25. Zhuhai Port in China has been identified in media reports as a source of precursor chemicals for rocket fuel.  The container ship TOUSKA (IMO 9328900) had also visited both Zhuhai and Port Klang, before being interdicted and seized by US forces in the Gulf of Oman on April 19.

Iran flagged container ships near Malaysia on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Five Iran-flagged cargo ships were anchored in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage area, openly broadcasting on AIS on May 14. The bulk cargo ships ARVIN (IMO 9193202), MIAMI PRIDE (IMO 9274941), BASKAR (IMO 9405942) and ANDIA (IMO 9193197) plus the container ship AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) are all loitering, likely due to the U.S. blockade disrupting their planned movements. On May 14, BASKAR and AZARGUON maneuvered to new locations in the EOPL anchorage. ARVIN, currently laden according to its AIS, departed Dafeng, China on April 26. MIAMI PRIDE departed Kuantan Port on May 4. BASKAR departed Yangjiang, China on April 30, and ANDIA departed Shanghai on May 1. AZARGOUN departed Port Klang on May 11.

Iran flagged cargo ships at Malaysian EOPL on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

On May 14, the OFAC-sanctioned Iran flagged bulk cargo ship KIAZAND (IMO 9465758) departed the anchorage of Songkhla, Thailand. The vessel’s destination is listed on AIS as Phuket, Thailand, with an ETA of May 16. KIAZAND conducted unknown cargo operations from May 3-8, in port Songkhla, before anchoring offshore from May 8-14 and is now reporting that it is in ballast condition. 

Iran flagged cargo ship in Gulf of Thailand on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

On May 14, three Iran-flagged container ships remain anchored in the vicinity of Zhuhai Port on Gaolan Island, China. BEHTA (IMO 9349590), SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) and SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) are all OFAC sanctioned. SHABGOUN completed unknown cargo operations at Zhuhai terminal on May 11 and returned to the anchorage on May 12.

Iran flagged container ships at Zhuhai, China, on May 14 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

On May 14, the Iran-flagged container ship OURA (IMO 9387815) continued sailing southward in the South China Sea. The vessel is broadcasting on AIS and displaying that it is in ballast condition. OURA departed Dafeng, China on May 7, after completed unknown cargo operations. Although a destination is not displayed, OURA is likely heading to the Malaysian EOPL.

Iran flagged bulk cargo ship sailing in South China Sea on May 14 
(Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)