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Two Indian Ships Included on Iran’s 45-Vessel Strait of Hormuz Blacklist

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) has placed 45 commercial vessels on a non-compliant blacklist for allegedly violating navigation and transit regulations in the Strait of Hormuz. Among the ships identified are two vessels owned or operated by Indian entities: the liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Disha and the bulk carrier Maha Roos.

What Happened

The PGSA published a list of 45 blacklisted vessels spanning crude oil tankers, LNG carriers, container ships, and bulk carriers. According to an announcement by the authority on social media platform X, the designated vessels face penalties during future transits through the Strait of Hormuz, which may include fines, seizure, or confiscation. The authority also cautioned that vessels engaging in transshipment or ship-to-ship transfers with blacklisted vessels would themselves be placed on the list.

The two Indian-linked vessels identified are:

  • Disha: A Malta-flagged LNG tanker owned by India LNG Transport Company No. 1, a joint venture involving the state-owned Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) and foreign shipping companies. SCI serves as the commercial and safety manager for the vessel, which is chartered on a long-term basis by Petronet LNG. The ship was previously stranded in the Persian Gulf for over three months amid regional conflict before exiting the strait on June 15, and is currently stationed off the coast of Gujarat. Its operations were recently suspended following disruptions in Qatari LNG supplies.
  • Maha Roos: An India-flagged bulk carrier owned by Pune-based BG Shirke Construction Technology, with commercial and international safety management handled by Mumbai-based Five Stars Shipping. Vessel tracking records show the vessel anchored off the Brazilian coast.

Beyond the Indian vessels, the blacklist features ships linked to entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (particularly ADNOC), Greece, the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore, Norway, and a Pakistan-flagged tanker.

Key Highlights

  • The PGSA blacklisted 45 commercial ships for alleged non-compliance with Iranian transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Vessels on the list face potential fines, boarding, seizure, or confiscation on future transits.
  • Third-party ships conducting ship-to-ship transfers or transshipments with blacklisted vessels will also be penalized.
  • Entities seeking removal from the blacklist have been directed by the PGSA to submit requests with explanations to an official email address.
  • The PGSA did not specify individual violations for the ships on the list.

Why This Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime energy corridors, accounting for roughly 20 percent of global crude oil and LNG flows prior to the conflict in West Asia. India is particularly reliant on this transit passage: around 40 percent of its crude oil imports, 60 percent of its LNG imports, and 90 percent of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports traditionally transit through the strait from West Asia. Overall, India relies on imports for over 88 percent of its oil, 60 percent of its LPG, and approximately 50 percent of its natural gas needs.

Geopolitical friction has heightened around the waterway since June, when the PGSA announced that transiting vessels must obtain Iranian approval, use Tehran-designated lanes, and prepare for future service fees. Conversely, the United States and regional allies have directed ships to bypass Iranian approval by using alternative routes through waters near Oman. The blacklist was issued shortly after the United States threatened Iran with sanctions and enacted its own shipping blockade measures in the area.

What to Watch Next

The PGSA has instructed cargo owners to consult its online registry to prevent operational issues. Vessels seeking removal from the blacklist are required to submit an explanation to info@pgsa.ir for review by Iranian authorities. Stakeholders will also monitor how international shipping operators respond to conflicting navigation directives issued by Iranian authorities and the US-led coalition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Indian ships were blacklisted by Iran?

The two Indian-linked vessels are the LNG tanker Disha, commercially managed by the Shipping Corporation of India and chartered by Petronet LNG, and the bulk carrier Maha Roos, owned by Pune-based BG Shirke Construction Technology.

What penalties do the blacklisted vessels face?

According to the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, vessels on the list face future restrictions when transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including potential fines, seizure, or confiscation.

Why are vessels required to seek permission in the Strait of Hormuz?

In June, Iran’s PGSA announced that ships must seek approval to transit the strait and use Tehran-designated lanes, with plans to charge fees for maritime security, navigation assistance, and environmental protection. However, the United States and allied nations have contested this requirement and advised vessels to navigate without PGSA authorization.

Source: Based on reporting from The Indian Express.