Iran War Shipping Update - April 27, 2026

During the Iran War, the Iranian regime’s Ghost Fleet has continued to operate actively — loading cargo, transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and heading east toward its primary buyer, China. The U.S. blockade may now be constraining those exports, as UANI’s shipping updates continue to track the ghost fleet’s illicit maritime movements throughout the conflict.

The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports targets vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports, as well as vessels carrying contraband and sanctionable oil cargoes. However, the scope of the blockade is not intended to cover all Iran-linked ships. While some of vessels passing the blockade may be transporting Iranian-origin cargoes, the majority are likely not. UANI has observed vessels departing the Persian Gulf carrying oil products from other countries—in some cases, the origin of their cargoes remains unknown. U.S. forces prioritize high-value VLCC tankers over smaller Handymax oil and LPG carriers due to risk-reward calculus. True effectiveness of the blockade lies in disrupting regime oil revenue to China, raising sanctions evasion costs, deterring large shipments, and pressuring Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept American demands for a negotiated settlement. 

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

U.S. Blockade 

On April 7, President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran. Pakistan mediated ceasefire talks, which President Trump stated was contingent on the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively ending its wartime closure. However, on April 12, after ceasefire talks with Iran ended without an agreement, President Trump announced that the U.S. would initiate a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas effective April 13. U.S. Central Command posted that U.S. forces are “executing the mission to blockade ships entering and departing Iranian ports” on April 14. By blockading vessels calling on Iranian ports, including tankers carrying Iranian oil, the administration aims to cut off the Iranian regime’s major source of revenue. The blockade, now implemented, represents a significant escalation in U.S. enforcement strategy, with implications for global energy markets, regional stability, and the future calibration of U.S. sanctions policy. President Donald Trump announced on April 21 that he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire until Iran responds to U.S. negotiating positions or until talks reach a dead end.

On April 27, U.S. CENTCOM posted that U.S. forces have directed 38 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the commencement of the blockade. 

U.S. CENTCOM update on the blockade on April 27 (U.S. CENTCOM/X)

Over the weekend, U.S. naval forces intercepted and turned around another ghost fleet vessel, the LPG SEVAN (IMO 9177806), in the Arabian Sea. The vessel is among 19 ghost fleet ships sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury last Friday for transporting billions of dollars' worth of Iranian energy, oil, and gas products—including propane and butane—to foreign markets.

Tanker turned around by U.S. naval forces (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical flashpoint in the Iran War. Since the start of the conflict, 37 confirmed maritime incidents involving commercial vessels and offshore infrastructure have been reported across the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said it seized two container ships, EPAMINONDAS (IMO 9153862) and MSC FRANCESCA (IMO 9401116), in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, claiming they violated Iranian maritime rules. Satellite imagery confirms that these two vessels are still in the Strait of Hormuz on April 27.

Two container ships reportedly seized by the IRGC in the Strait of Hormuz on April 27 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

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.

Strait of Hormuz (SoH) transits from April 10 to April 25 (Credit: JMIC)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers in the Persian Gulf 

UANI has identified at least 31 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 April 27

Iran-linked Vessels at Chabahar Port, Iran

Iran-linked tankers are loitering and anchoring outside of the Persian Gulf at Chabahar Port, Iran. On April 23, nine Iran-flagged tankers, 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 have departed from Chabahar port, with five turning back in response to U.S. enforcement actions and two interdicted.

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the outbreak of the conflict, UANI has tracked at least 57 Iranian oil loadings, 35 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. These shipments represent approximately 70 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $5 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.

Iran is reportedly expanding crude storage at Kharg Island by reactivating the 30-year-old VLCC NASHA (IMO 9079107), signaling that Iran’s main oil hub is nearing its onshore storage capacity. Previously anchored empty for years, the VLCC was repositioned as floating storage to manage excess crude unable to exit the system. On April 26, NASHA was observed loading Iranian crude from the Azarpad loading jetty on the west side of Kharg Island in satellite imagery.

NASHA loading at Kharg Island on April 26 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Iran-oil Laden Tankers That Have Left the Persian Gulf

Since the start of the conflict, UANI has observed at least 56 ghost fleet tankers laden with Iranian oil that have left the Persian Gulf — some broadcasting their AIS signals and others operating clandestinely. These tankers are enroute to Malaysia to conduct ship-to-ship (STS) transfers with other ghost fleet vessels bound for China. 

After loitering near Jamnagar for about a week, FELICITY (IMO 9183934) and DERYA (IMO 9569700) departed the Gulf of Kutch, India. FELICITYleft on April 18, reporting empty, and then turned off its AIS signal. Satellite imagery confirms that FELICITY is heading back empty towards the Persian Gulf, with the tanker passing the U.S. blockade between April 20 and 21. Meanwhile, DERYA departed southward on April 19, still reporting laden with a deep draft of 20 meters, and then turned off its AIS. DERYA was later observed in satellite imagery travelling southbound along the Indian coastline on April 22. Reports suggested that this vessel was interdicted by U.S. naval forces, but this is yet to be confirmed. 

Tankers sailing the Arabian Sea between April 18 and 23 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

FELICITY has since been observed in satellite imagery loading Iranian crude from Kharg Island’s T-jetty on April 26.

FELICITY loading at Kharg Island on April 26 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the conflict began, at least 29 Iran-flagged tankers have reached Southeast Asian waters bound for the Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage off Johor, Malaysia.

Meanwhile, at least 33 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. On April 26, two Iran flagged tankers HALTI (IMO 9212890) and HELM (IMO 9357391) transited the Singapore and Malacca Straits reporting empty en route back to Iran. Meanwhile, another Iran flagged tanker TOUR 2 (IMO 9364112) is still anchored in the EOPL and laden according to AIS. 

Iran flagged tankers in Southeast Asian sea lanes on April 26 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iran-Oil Laden Tankers off the Malaysian Coast

From February 28, the start of the conflict, to today, UANI has recorded 116 tankers laden with Iranian oil in the EOPL anchorage, a ghost fleet hotspot approximately 70 km off Malaysia’s coast. All of these tankers have been spotted in satellite imagery.

On April 27, 16 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering in the EOPL area with their AIS signals active. Despite the ongoing conflict, ghost fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes. 

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Three Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned container ships remain at anchor outside Zhuhai Port on Gaolan Island, China. BEHNAVAZ (IMO 9346548) and BEHTA (IMO 9349590) were joined by SHABDIS (IMO 9349588), which arrived and anchored on April 25. Meanwhile, RADIN (IMO 9820257) which arrived from Shanghai, conducted unknown cargo ops in Zhuhai Port on April 24-25, and then departed, heading south into the South Chain Sea. On April 27, it appeared to stop and began drifting for an unknown reason.

Iran flagged container ships and Zhuhai, China, on April 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned bulk carrier BASKAR (IMO 9405942) arrived in port Yangjiang, China on April 27, for unknown cargo operations. BASKAR departed Bandar Abbas on April 3 and transited the Singapore Strait on April 20. This is the first Iranian ship to visit Yangjiang port since the start of the war.

Iran flagged bulk cargo ship in Yangjiang, China, on April 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned bulk carrier BAHJAT (IMO 9405954) departed Kuantan, Malaysia on April 25, after five days of unknown cargo operations, and proceeded to the Singapore and Malacca Strait. The Iran-flagged cargo ship MIAMI PRIDE (IMO 9274941), laden with an unknown cargo, arrived at Kuantan anchorage on April 22, and immediately entered port after BAHJAT departed.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in Kuantan, Malaysia and Malacca Strait on April 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran-flagged, OFAC-sanctioned bulk carrier KIAZAND (IMO 9465758) departed Xiamen, China on April 26, after conducting unknown cargo ops since April 24. The ship’s new destination is listed on AIS as Songkhla, Thailand, with estimated arrival on May 2. KIAZAND previously departed Bandar Abbas on March 23, and anchored offshore Colombo, Sri Lanka from April 2-4.  

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the South China Sea on April 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iranian flagged container ship SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524), anchored at the Changjiangkou (CJK) anchorage near Shanghai, China, was joined by ANDIA (IMO 9193197) and ARVIN (IMO 9193202) on April 27. The partially laden bulk cargo ship ANDIA is currently heading to either the anchorage or into port. The laden ARVIN is passing the anchorage after departing Dafeng, China on April 26. Its cargo and destination are unknown. 

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the vicinity of Shanghai on April 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)