A U.S.-flagged cargo ship was reportedly targeted by a small military craft in the Persian Gulf on January 24, amid ongoing Iranian naval exercises in the region. The incident, which…
Iran
Vessels Report Radio Challenges in Northern Gulf Amid Iranian Exercise
Vessels in the northern Gulf have received multiple VHF radio challenges, including demands to alter course, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Friday, adding they could be part of an Iranian military exercise.
https://gcaptain.com/vessels-report-radio-challenges-in-northern-gulf-amid-iranian-exercise/
UKMTO warns of suspicious vessel approach near Iran
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) is reporting a suspicious approach to a merchant ship in the Persian Gulf near Iran. The master of the unidentified vessel reported his ship was approached by a small military craft and it has been flashing a green laser light towards the...
https://splash247.com/ukmto-warns-of-suspicious-vessel-approach-near-iran/
Iran Unveils New Underground Naval Base Amid Tension With US And Israel
DUBAI, Jan 18 (Reuters) – Iran unveiled an underground naval missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location on Saturday, state TV said, two days before the start of Donald Trump’s second term as president….
https://gcaptain.com/iran-unveils-new-underground-naval-base-amid-tension-with-us-and-israel/
Audit finds more than 80% of sanctioned ships have no confirmed insurance
The number of vessels hit by sanctions has surpassed 1,000 with data from S&P Global Market Intelligence showing that more 800 of these ships do not have confirmed insurance. Moreover, the average age of sanctioned ships – 21 years – is some eight years older than the global average, adding to...
https://splash247.com/audit-finds-more-than-80-of-sanctioned-ships-have-no-confirmed-insurance/
Shipping in the Crosshairs: What Trump’s Return Could Mean for Iran and Maritime Trade
As the incoming Trump administration sets the stage for its foreign policy agenda, the maritime industry is bracing for the potential ripple effects of renewed U.S.-Iran tensions. President-elect Donald Trump’s…
Major Chinese port group bans tankers on OFAC’s sanctions list
Shandong Port Group has banned any tanker sanctioned by the US from calling at its ports. The group oversees major ports on China’s northeast coast including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are among the biggest destinations for sanctioned oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela. Reuters has...
https://splash247.com/major-chinese-port-group-bans-tankers-on-ofacs-sanctions-list/
Iran’s Oil Exports Soar to 587M Barrels, Led by China’s Thirst
Despite tightening Western sanctions, Iran’s oil exports reached 587 million barrels in 2024, marking a significant 10.75% increase from the previous year, with China emerging as the dominant buyer, according…
https://gcaptain.com/irans-oil-exports-soar-to-587m-barrels-led-by-chinas-thirst/
First Supertanker to Be Scrapped in Two Years Is a Dark Ship
The Amor, a Cameroon-flagged vessel known to have transported Iranian oil, has become the first supertanker to be registered for demolition in more than two years, a sign that increased scrutiny on ships hauling sanctioned crude is raising pressure on operators.
https://gcaptain.com/first-supertanker-to-be-scrapped-in-two-years-is-a-dark-ship/
Iran Oil Tycoon ‘Hector’ Plays Key Role in Arms Sales to Russia
An Iranian oil tycoon who’s managed to quietly embed himself in the heart of the Western financial system is among a cadre of businessmen handling weapons deliveries across the Caspian Sea to Russia, helping Moscow in its war in Ukraine.
https://gcaptain.com/iran-oil-tycoon-hector-plays-key-role-in-arms-sales-to-russia/