Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) has published a blacklist of vessels it alleges have violated Iran’s rules for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, threatening the vessels with detention, confiscation, or fines.
PGSA warned cargo owners to check the 45-vessel list before chartering vessels. The US sanctioned PGSA in late May and has questioned the legality of requiring tolls to receive vessel transit permits for the Strait of Hormuz.
“Vessels that, from this date onward, engage in ship-to-ship transfers, transhipment, etc., with vessels on this list will themselves be added to this list,” PGSA said on 23 August.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited, with 121 crossings last week, according to intelligence platform Kpler. Laden transfers were down 26% and sanctioned crossing were up from nine to 16., while the share of crossing via Iran’s routing scheme grew to 46.3%
Of the 45 vessels, at least 14 have been the target of an attack in and around the Strait of Hormuz in recent months. In an apparent error, the 46-line list included crude tanker Vadin and the same ship’s previous name Lila Vadinare.
The shipowner with the most vessels on the list is ADNOC Logistics & Services, with eight vessels directly under its management including LNG carriers, VLCCs, a bulker, and a chemical/products tanker. The UAE-headquartered group also owns 80% of Navig8, owner of Navig8 Messi.
Al Bahyah was hit on 14 July and suffered significant damage while Navig8 Messi was struck on 14 August by a drone. ADNOC also operates Mombasa B under a timecharter agreement from Sinokor; the VLCC was attacked on the same day as Al Bahyah.
Abu Dhabi is further linked to the list through AD Ports Group, owner of Global Feeder Shipping (GFS), Safeen Feeders and Noatum. GFS Galaxy, a 7,000 teu boxship, is on the PGSA list and was attacked on 11 July, resulting in the death of one seafarer. Safeen Feeders 10 is owned by Safeen Feeders and managed by Noatum.
Sinokor is linked to at least five of the vessels. Cyprus Prosperity, which was struck by a projectile on 7 July, ADNOC L&S-operated Mombasa B, Singapore Prosperity, Sweden Prosperity, and Rotterdam Energy.
Saudi shipping giant Bahri is linked to three of the vessels, VLCC Wedyan, which was struck on 7 July, chemical tanker Maria, and chemical/product tanker Lubna.
Nakilat’s LNG carriers Al Rekayyat and Rasheeda are both on the list; Al Rekayyat was hit by a projectile on 7 July.
Other well-known shipping names represented on the list include Stolt-Nielsen, Klaveness Combination Carriers, Shipping Corporation of India, Dynacom, and GasLog.
Stolt-Nielsen’s Stolt Magnesium was attacked on 13 July, Dynacom’s Kavomaleas was attacked on 19 July, and GasLog’s Gaslog Shanghai was attacked on 31 July.