Iran War Shipping Update—March 17, 2026

Since the onset of Operation Epic Fury, UANI has monitored a significant volume of Iranian oil at sea. Illicit Iranian oil sales are a major source of funding for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is currently conducting military and terrorist operations targeting the U.S., Israel, Arab states in the Persian Gulf, and international shipping. In the weeks leading up to the conflict, Tehran sharply increased crude loadings and offshore stockpiling to cushion the impact of war on its oil trade. Amid ongoing hostilities, the Iranian regime’s Ghost Fleet continues to operate actively — loading cargo, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and heading east toward its primary buyer, China. UANI’s regular shipping update will continue to monitor and report on the illicit maritime movements of the Iranian regime’s ghost fleet throughout the conflict.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint in the ongoing Iran war, as the Iranian regime intensifies efforts to disrupt maritime traffic. Since the start of the conflict, at least 21 commercial vessels have been hit. In addition, the IRGC is reportedly attempting to deploy naval mines in the strait. Although U.S. forces have destroyed more than 30 Iranian mine-laying vessels, Iran has adapted by deploying smaller boats and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) to continue targeting commercial shipping.

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. On March 16, just three cargo vessels were reported to openly transit eastbound out of the Persian Gulf. 

On March 17, a non-Iranian LPG-laden tanker SEA BIRD (IMO 9088536) transited the strait with its AIS signal on. The vessel hugged Iranian territorial waters rather than remaining in international lanes, suggesting it may have also obtained some form of tacit approval from Tehran. SEA BIRD is, however, OFAC-sanctioned and listed on UANI’s Ghost Fleet for its past role in transporting Iranian LPG.

Status of Kharg Island 

On March 14, U.S. forces conducted a targeted strike on military assets located on Kharg Island — Iran’s principal oil export hub through which nearly 90 percent of its crude exports transit. The strike, part of a new phase in U.S. military operations against Iran, specifically targeted IRGC controlled military installations but avoided damaging the island’s oil infrastructure. Satellite imagery indicates all 55 crude storage tanks remain intact. Despite the strike, UANI has monitored continued activity at Kharg. UANI assesses that both Iran-flagged and falsely-flagged, stateless tankers will likely continue to operate from Kharg unless broader U.S. or coalition measures directly target Iran’s oil export infrastructure and network of tankers

Iranian Oil Laden Tankers in the Persian Gulf 

UANI has identified at least 25 tankers laden with Iranian oil — primarily crude — currently operating inside the Persian Gulf, west of the Strait of Hormuz.

Map of Iranian oil laden tankers in the Persian Gulf on March 17

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the outbreak of the conflict, UANI has tracked at least 15 Iranian oil loadings, 11 of which originated from Kharg Island. These shipments represent approximately 20 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $1 billion for the IRGC, which continues to fund Iran’s active missile and drone programs central to the conflict. On March 17, three tankers were monitored loading Iranian crude off Kharg Island’s T-jetty. 

Satellite Imagery of three tankers loading Iranian crude on March 17

Iran-oil Laden Tankers That have Left the Persian Gulf 

Since the start of the conflict, UANI has observed at least seven dark fleet tankers that have left the Persian Gulf — some broadcasting their AIS signals and others operating clandestinely — likely enroute to Malaysia to conduct ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with other Ghost Fleet vessels bound for China.

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has observed at least 20 Iranian-flagged tankers well outside of the Persian Gulf area, all spotted in satellite imagery near the Malaysian EOPL anchorage. Since the start of the conflict, eleven tankers have begun to return from the Southeast Asian waters through the Indian Ocean towards Iran. Eleven tankers were observed transiting through the Malacca and Singapore Straits toward the anchorages off Malaysia. One March 16, one Iranian-flagged tanker transited the Singapore Strait eastbound, laden with Iranian oil. Three other Iranian-flagged tankers continued to transit the Malacca Strait toward the Indian Ocean, in order to return to Iran for their next cargo.

Map of Iranian flagged tankers transiting the Malacca Strait on March 16 (Credit: Starboard Maritime Intelligence)

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

Since the start of the conflict, UANI has recorded 64 Iranian oil laden tankers in the East Outer Port Limits (EOPL) area, a ghost fleet hotspot approximately 70 km off Malaysia’s coast. On March 17, UANI monitored 5 ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of Iranian crude in this zone. The five feeder vessels originally loaded in Iran in late February, just before conflict’s outbreak, with all cargoes destined for China.

Satellite imagery of the five STS transfers taking place in the EOPL area on March 17

Also today, the US Navy warship USS Tripoli, widely reported to be transiting to the Middle East, passed near the ghost fleet tankers in the EOPL anchorage, prior to entering the Singapore Strait.

Satellite imagery of the USS Tripoli passing three of the five STS transfers on March 17