Iran Shipping Update – November 10, 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 133 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 25 seafarer deaths.  UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has recorded more attacks that have yet to be verified by the IMO.

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 30.3 vessels per day with 91 transits recorded during the latest 72-hour period (November 5–7). This brings the month-to-date November total to 217 transits across 7 days at 31.0 per day and lifting the cumulative campaign total to 3,306 transits at an overall average of 23.4 per day across 141 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 blockade. Since the blockade resumed, approximately 12 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.  

On November 9, OCEAN UNITY (IMO 9002908) departed the Gulf of Oman laden with over 600,000 barrels of Iranian LPG. OCEAN UNITY previously loaded Iranian LPG at Assaluyeh Port, Iran, on October 27 and then loitered in the Gulf of Oman for two weeks until its departure.

Tanker laden with Iranian LPG departing the Gulf of Oman on November 9

(Credit: ESA Copernicus & Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 55 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 10 (Credit: UANI)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the U.S. reinstated the 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 20 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 21 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 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

After conducting STS transfers of Iranian crude in the EOPL, 20 empty Iran-flagged tankers are currently loitering off Sri Lanka. These tankers are DREAM II (IMO 9356593), STREAM (IMO 9569633), HALTI (IMO 9212890), SEA CLIFF (IMO 9569657), HERO II (IMO 9362073), SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), SNOW (IMO 9569619), HELM (IMO 9357391), DUNE (IMO 9569712), DEEP SEA (IMO 9218492), DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), SONIA I (IMO 9357365), DORE (IMO 9357717), HERBY (IMO 9362059), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), HENNA (IMO 9212929), AMBER (IMO 9357406), and HUGE (IMO 9357183). Today, six of these tankers were observed in satellite imagery sitting idly in anchorages along the Sri Lankan coastline.

Empty Iran-flagged tankers along the Sri Lankan coastline on November 10

(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 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Danish Straits, the container ship ZARDIS (IMO 9349679), which departed Bronka Port on November 7, transited into the North Sea on its return voyage toward Port Said and the Suez Canal. It is scheduled to transit the Dover Strait on November 11. Meanwhile, the container ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) remained anchored near St. Petersburg, Russia, following a transit from Mumbai, India. The vessel will likely pull into Bronka Port for cargo operations.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in Norther Europe on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

In the Mediterranean Sea, the container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) transited the Strait of Sicily on its way toward the Strait of Gibraltar. The vessel is estimated to arrive at Bronka Port on November 19.

\Iran-flagged cargo ship in the Mediterranean on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Near the maritime boundary of Turkish and Greek waters, the general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) remained anchored after drifting and loitering in the vicinity of Tenedos Island, near the entrance to the Turkish Straits, since October 23. 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 risk of drone strikes in the Black Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near the Turkish Straits on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At the Kenyan coast, the container ship SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) berthed at Mombasa after transiting from Kandla, India. Meanwhile, three cargo ships—NESHAT (IMO 9167277), GOLSAN (9165815), and HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271)—remained anchored at Lamu, Kenya.

Iran-flagged cargo ship in Mombasa on November 10 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

At the Gulf of Kutch, FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) and SARUK (IMO 9719862) both remained anchored south of the entrance, while DAISY (IMO 9270684) and VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524) continued to anchor near Kandla. ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) is en route to Kandla, with an estimated arrival on November 20.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in Gulf of Kutch on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic & ESA Copernicus)

The container ship SHIBA (IMO 9270646) continued to loiter in international waters off Chennai, India, since November 4, following its transit from Port Klang, Malaysia.

In the Malacca Strait, the container ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) departed port at Belawan, Indonesia, while VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) remained anchored at Port Klang.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the Malacca Strait on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

At the Malaysian EOPL, 21 Iranian-flagged cargo ships were located in the anchorage: 

AMINA (IMO 9305192), ANDIA (IMO 9193197), ARDAVAN (IMO 9465863), ARIES (IMO 9369722), ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007), ARTENOS (IMO 9283021), ARTIN (IMO 9305221), ARZIN (IMO 9284142), BAHJAT (IMO 9405954), BARZIN (IMO 9820269), BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978), DARYABAR (IMO 9369710), ELYANA (IMO 9165827), GANJ (IMO 9305219), GOLAFRUZ (IMO 9323833), KASHAN (IMO 9270696), PARISAN (IMO 9465851), PARNIA (IMO 9167265), RADIN (IMO 9820257), RAYEN (IMO 9820245), and ABYAN (IMO 9349667) The containership ABYAN arrived from Zhuhai today and the TAVA 4 (IMO 9292151) will arrive from Zhuhai tomorrow. 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.

Iran-flagged cargo ships in the EOPL on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The bulk cargo ship PARSHAD (IMO 9387786) departed Sri Racha, Thailand, after arriving in the vicinity on September 30. It lists its destination as Bandar Imam Khomeini (BIK), Iran, but will likely stop at the Malaysian EOPL before continuing onward.

The container ship NADIA (IMO 9122461) departed Jakarta after cargo operations and sailed north into the Java Sea. Its destination is listed as Shanghai, China.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Jakarta on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The container ship FLORA (IMO 9349576) departed Shanghai and is en route to Zhuhai, with an estimated arrival of November 14. Meanwhile, ASYAN (IMO 9165803) remained anchored in the Changjiangkou (CJK) anchorage.

The Iran-linked, OFAC-sanctioned, Panama-flagged bulk cargo ship DESTINY (IMO 9385491) arrived and anchored off Kuantan, Malaysia.

Iran-flagged cargo ship near Kuantan on November 10 (Credit: Marine Traffic)