Seatrade-Maritime: Sanctioned tanker pulls Strait of Hormuz U-turn

A US-sanctioned tanker has reversed course after what looked to be a successful transit of the Strait of Hormuz in the face of a US blockade of Iranian ports.

AIS data from Pole Star Global shows Rich Starry, a tanker falsely flying the Malawi flag, abruptly turning north and heading back towards the Strait of Hormuz instead of continuing into the Arabian Sea. Its movements appear to support a US blockade being held outside of the Arabian Gulf, allowing US naval vessels to interdict merchant ships further from the threat of Iranian attack.

“The US blockade seems to be in force,” Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Marine said in a social media post on Rich Starry’s movements.

The ship had been showing China as its destination and was showing as laden after loading in the UAE, although the ship has a history of falsifying its AIS information, security experts warned.

Rich Starry is one of two vessels being closely watched as a first test for the US blockade of Iranian ports. The other, Elpis, has slowed to a halt at the entrance to the Arabian Sea after completing a transit of the Strait of Hormuz.

The change in behaviour from the two ships comes as an audio recording is shared in maritime circles purportedly showing a US Navy warning to vessels not to breach a blockade of Iran’s ports, threatening use of force if ships fail to comply. Ships transiting to or from Iranian ports will be subject to interdiction and seizure, the recording says.

Rich Starry was added to OFAC’s special designation list under its previous name Full Star in early 2023 for its links to Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co. and its alleged activities transporting petrochemical products from Iran.

Elpis was designated in February 2025 under its previous name Chamtang for links to Malaysia-based IMS Ltd. and its involvement in the transportation of Iranian petroleum. The ship is currently shown as falsely flying the flag of Comoros.