Iran War Shipping Update - May 12, 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.

May 12

U.S. CENTCOM posts that U.S. forces have redirected 65 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 12 (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. Since May 6, open transits have fallen to near zero vessels per day.

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers in the Persian Gulf

UANI has identified at least 40 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 May 12

Today, the stateless tanker JIN LI (IMO 9255933), previously known as OCEAN KOI, was the feeder in a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of Iranian fuel oil. JIN LI was seized by Iran on May 8 for "trying ​to harm and disrupt oil ​exports ... by exploiting regional conditions," according to Iranian state media. Iran’s reported seizure of the vessel was unusual given that this tanker has previously transported over 6 million barrels of Iranian oil and was listed on UANI’s Ghost Armada in November 2020 and later sanctioned by OFAC this February. The STS transfer was observed near Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz in satellite imagery today. 

STS of Iranian fuel oil in the Strait of Hormuz on May 12 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

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 11, 13 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 departed from Chabahar Port, with eight of these 13 tankers returning to port in response to a variety of U.S. enforcement actions. 

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.

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.

Iran flagged tanker HUGE (IMO 9357183), laden with Iranian crude, transited towards the EOPL on May 6. HUGE had transited 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. 

Iranian flagged tanker transiting Southeast Asian sea lanes on May 6 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

On May 11, DERYA (IMO 9569700) has been observed in satellite imagery in the Malaysian EOPL, most likely to conduct an STS transfer with another tanker bound for China. On May 4, DERYA (IMO 9569700), also transited Lombok Strait. DERYA had previously appeared in the Gulf of Kutch, attempting to deliver Iranian oil at Sikka, India but departed on April 19. 

Iranian flagged tanker in the EOPL on May 11 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Both HUGE and DERYA briefly broadcast on AIS while transiting the Lombok Strait and were also observed in satellite imagery. 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.

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 continues to transit the South China Sea northbound on May 12. 

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 42 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.

On May 12, 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

On May 12, 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 7km 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)

The Iran flagged container ship ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) continued drifting in the Arabian Sea, approximately 200 km offshore of the Indian Coast, near the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundary of Indian and Pakistan. ARTABAZ departed Mumbai on April 19, after unknown cargo operations. It is possible that the ARTABAZ is loitering in the area conducting maritime surveillance in a picket pattern as is highly unusual behavior for a container ship transporting routine cargo. 

Iran flagged container ship drifting in Arabian Sea on May 12 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The Iran flagged container ships AREZOO (IMO 9165786) and RADIN (IMO 9820257) continued to remain anchored off Port Klang, Malaysia. Meanwhile the container ship AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) transited the Singapore Strait eastbound on May 12, heading for the EOPL anchorage.  AZARGOUN visited Port Klang Container Terminal, for unknown cargo ops from May 9-10, then departed Port Klang Container terminal on May 11.

Iran flagged container ships near Malaysia on May 12 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

Four Iran-flagged bulk cargo ships were anchored in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage area. ARVIN (IMO 9193202) and MIAMI PRIDE (IMO 9274941) were joined by BASKAR (IMO 9405942) on May 9, and ANDIA (IMO 9193197) on May 10. ARVIN, currently laden according to its AIS broadcast, departed Dafeng, China on April 26, after unknown cargo operations. MIAMI PRIDE departed Kuantan Port on May 4, after unknown cargo operations. BASKAR departed Yangjiang, China on April 30, and ANDIA departed Shanghai on May 1, after unknown cargo operations.  AZARGOUN (IMO 9283019) transited the Singapore Strait eastbound on May 12, arriving at the EOPL.

Iran flagged bulk cargo ships at Malaysian EOPL on May 12 (Credit: Marine Traffic and ESA Copernicus)

Three Iran-flagged bulk container ships remain in vicinity of Zhuhai Port on Gaolan Island, China. BEHTA (IMO 9349590) and SHABDIS (IMO 9349588) remained at anchor, while SHABGOUN (IMO 9346524) 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 12 (Credit: Marine Traffic)