Iran Blacklists 45 Vessels, Including Janggeum Shipping, in Strait of Hormuz

Fines Imposed for Violating Transit Rules
Sanctions May Extend to STS Transfers

Iran has placed 45 vessels, including oil tankers and those owned by Korea's Janggeum Shipping, on a blacklist, claiming violations of transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to foreign media reports on the 24th (local time), the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) in Iran published a list on X (formerly Twitter) the previous day, naming 45 vessels it said violated transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz. The authority warned that these vessels may face penalties, such as fines, detention, or cargo seizure, if they attempt to pass through the strait in the future.

Janggeum Shipping

The blacklist includes very large crude carriers (VLCCs), as well as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, and oil product tankers. It was found that five ships owned by Korean shipping company Janggeum Shipping (Sinokor) were included.

Additionally, ships from ADNOC Logistics & Services, the shipping affiliate of United Arab Emirates’ Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Navig8 Tankers, Saudi Arabia’s national shipping company Bahri, Norway’s Klaveness Ship Management, and Stolt Tankers were also named.

Iran stated that vessels on the blacklist, as well as ships engaged in ship-to-ship (STS) transfers or transshipment operations at sea, may be subject to additional sanctions. PGSA did not disclose the specific regulations that these vessels have violated, and called on cargo owners to verify if a vessel is on the blacklist before chartering.

This action is seen as targeting the so-called "shuttle transportation" method that Gulf oil-producing countries have recently adopted to reduce the risks of passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Some shipping companies have been operating relatively small tankers inside and outside the strait, then transferring oil to larger tankers waiting outside the strait, such as in the Gulf of Oman.

In practice, ADNOC and others have continued exports by operating ships loaded with oil from Gulf region terminals to transshipment points outside the Strait of Hormuz, then transferring cargo onto large, long-haul tankers. Ships owned by Janggeum Shipping and ADNOC have also recently participated in crude oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.