Iran threatens 45 tankers with fines, confiscation in Hormuz escalation
By Nidhi Verma and Florence Tan
Aug 24 (Reuters) - Iran said it had blacklisted 45 tankers that had broken its rules for crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and would take action against any vessels transferring loads with them, escalating its threats over the key waterway six months into the war.
The named vessels could be fined, detained and have their cargoes confiscated, according to an X post late on Sunday from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, a new body set up by Iran to manage the strait.
The warning was issued within days of the U.S. threatening Iran with "the toughest sanctions in history", and Iran saying its response to any new U.S. threats would be "devastating".
The restricted list includes very large crude carriers, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers, and clean product vessels, among others.
Some of the named ships are owned by the United Arab Emirates' ADNOC Logistics and Shipping (ADNOC L&S), ADNOC's subsidiary Navig8 Tankers, and Saudi Arabia's national shipping carrier Bahri.
Any vessels involved in ship-to-ship transfers with the named vessels could be added to the blacklist, the Iranian X post added.
The post did not spell out what it meant by Iran's rules, but Tehran has in the past said ship-owners should get its clearance to transit the strait and said ships should pay for security and other services.
The U.S. has also imposed a naval blockade against Iran-related shipping.
The Gulf supplied about 20% of the world's daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas before the Iran conflict disrupted tanker traffic.
U.S.-coordinated efforts to shuttle tankers quietly through the Strait of Hormuz to fill supertankers waiting just outside it are helping restore some of those export volumes.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said on X on Friday that the "7-day average of oil leaving the Strait is over 8 million barrels a day. Make no mistake, thanks to the U.S. Navy, oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz."
Ships owned by Klaveness Ship Management, Stolt Tankers and South Korea's Sinokor were also included on the blacklist.
ADNOC declined to comment, while other shipping firms did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
The Persian Gulf Strait Authority has said cargo owners should refer to an updated list of vessels deemed non-compliant for voyages relating to the Gulf.
Ships seeking the removal of their names from the non-compliant vessels' list must submit a request with relevant explanations to Iran's maritime authorities, the post said.
Below is the list of vessels appearing in the non-compliance list.
No. Vessel Name IMO Number
1 Kiku 9329796
2 Mubaraz 9074626
3 Minoan Pioneer 9471630
4 Hafeet 9928009
5 Al Rekayyat 9397339
6 Wedyan 9524970
7 Cyprus Prosperity 9595216
8 Al Rawdah 9734513
9 Rasheeda 9443413
10 Lebrethah 9976927
11 Lila Vadinar 9324100
12 Maha Roos 9231004
13 Gfs Galaxy 9401271
14 Al Bahyah 9937799
15 Mombasa B 9739501
16 Stolt Magnesium 9739317
17 Al Watan 9615030
18 Navig8 Messi 9482859
19 Singapore Prosperity 9419967
20 Disha 9250713
21 Gaslog Shanghai 9600528
22 Lubna 9489065
23 Hazi 1 7802598
24 Ryujin 8206818
25 Anna Barbara 9407500
26 Sunbird Arrow 9323821
27 Minoan Dignity 9294484
28 Maria 9917828
29 Kavomaleas 1042823
30 Mardan 9360453
31 Sweden Prosperity 9588392
32 Jarnain 9823546
33 Kaifan 9656046
34 Nissos Kea 9920758
35 Rotterdam Energy 9508859
36 Al Hamra 9074640
37 Umm Al Ashtan 9074652
38 Marigold Lng 9230062
39 Banastar 9228045
40 Navara 9241798
41 Nissos Heraclea 9419618
42 Blue Star 1 9215115
43 Ashley 9258466
44 Mraweh 9074638
45 Al Lulu 9583627
(Additional Reporting by Siyi Liu, Siddarth S and Enes Tunagur; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Thomas Derpinghaus and Andrew Heavens)
