Iran Shipping Update – November 5, 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 129 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 24 seafarer deaths.

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 31.5 vessels per day with 126 transits recorded during the opening 96-hour period of November (November 1–4). This sets the November month-to-date pace at 31.5 transits per day, and raises the cumulative campaign total to 3,215 transits at an overall average of 23.3 per day across 138 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 U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. As of October 31, U.S. forces have redirected 144 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled four that didn’t comply, and boarded two to ensure total compliance.

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 54 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 5 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the U.S. reinstated the maritime 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 21 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 22 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.

Ghost Armada tankers near Malaysia on November 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Empty Iran-linked Tankers near Sri Lanka

Prevented from returning to Iranian home ports by the U.S. blockade, 20 empty Iran-flagged tankers in ballast are currently loitering in international waters along the Sri Lankan coastline, stationed just beyond the country's territorial waters. Between October 23 and October 26, at least six of these vessels transited south toward the Galle anchorage before returning to anchorages further north along the coast. On October 24, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry coordinated the emergency medical evacuation of 40 Iranian seafarers from 19 commercial vessels operating in nearby international waters. The seafarers were brought ashore at Galle Harbour for medical treatment before being repatriated to Iran. On November 5, 15 of the empty Iran flagged tankers anchored along the coastline of Sri Lanka were identified in satellite imagery.

Iran-flagged tankers near Sri Lanka on November 5 (Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

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 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Russian Pacific, the Iranian-flagged container ship AYSAN (IMO 9165803) transited the East Sea (or Sea of Japan) after departing Vladivostok Port, Russia. This was the first Iranian cargo ship to openly visit Vladivostok since the start of the war. AYSAN is now heading back to Shanghai, with an estimated arrival on November 8, and will likely transit the Tsushima Strait between Korea and Japan, mirroring its inbound route.

 Iran-flagged cargo ship in the East Sea on November 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Gulf of Finland, the container ship ZARDIS (IMO 9349679) remained in Bronka Port, near St. Petersburg, Russia, for cargo operations. It previously departed Port Klang, Malaysia.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near St. Petersburg on November 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) entered the Danish Straits, heading to St. Petersburg, Russia, from Mumbai, with an estimated arrival of November 10. EU Directive 2025/811 requires Mandatory Ship Reporting of key safety information, including insurance certificates due to substandard ships that pose substantial risks to maritime safety and marine ecosystems.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Danish Straits on November 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At Libya, the container ship BASHT (IMO 9346536) remained in port at Benghazi, Libya. Its previous port visits were to Zhuhai and then Port Klang, continuing a pattern of Iranian cargo ships connecting these ports.

In both Turkish and Greek waters, the general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) has been loitering in the vicinity of Tenedos Island, near the entrance to the Turkish Straits, since 23 October. 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 drone strike risks in the Black Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near the Turkish Straits on November 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Red Sea, the Iranian-flagged container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) continued sailing north toward Suez, with an estimated arrival on November 6. BEHTA is sailing from Shanghai to Suez and will likely then sail onward to a Russian port.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near the Red Sea on November 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship SHIBA (IMO 9270646) continued to loiter in international waters in the vicinity of Chennai, India, after transiting from Port Klang.

In the Malacca Strait, ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) departed the Port Klang anchorage, sailing north toward its new destination, Kandla, India, where it is expective to arrive on November 20.

At the Malaysian EOPL, 19 Iranian-flagged cargo ships were anchored 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), and VELON 1 (IMO 9122473).  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. The container vessel NADIA (IMO 9122461) departed the EOPL after loitering for 24 hours, likely to receive logistical support following its port call at Port Klang and prior to its arrival in Jakarta. The vessel is currently in transit with an estimated arrival in Jakarta on November 6.

The container ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) transited the Singapore Strait westbound, without stopping in the EOPL, on its way to Port Klang, with an estimated arrival of November 6.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the Singapore Strait and EOPL on November 5 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At Zhuhai, the container ship ABYAN (IMO 9349667) remained anchored. TAVA 4 (IMO 9292151) is enroute from Shanghai to Zhuhai via the Taiwan Strait, with an estimated arrival of November 6.