Approximately 16-17 Iranian-flagged Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) are currently stationed just outside Sri Lanka's 12-nautical-mile territorial waters off Galle. These tankers, some over 330 meters long and part of Iran's "dark fleet," are suspected of transporting Iranian crude oil while evading international sanctions, often by manipulating Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. The vessels, including the Hero II, Silvia I, Sea Cliff, and Amber, have been visible for weeks, with some like the MT Amber arriving as early as July 16.
Sri Lanka faces a dilemma as local businesses, including those offering food, fresh water, bunkering, or crew changes, could inadvertently expose themselves to US financial penalties if they provide support to these sanctioned vessels. Financial institutions processing payments for such transactions are also at risk. Although the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) maintains a public list of sanctioned entities, Sri Lankan authorities claim they have not received official notification from the US regarding these specific tankers, making it difficult to warn local suppliers.
The presence of these tankers is believed to be linked to a US blockade preventing them from returning to Iranian ports, with some having conducted ship-to-ship transfers in areas like Malaysia's Eastern Outer Port Limits. This situation highlights an expansion of US maritime enforcement against Iran, as evidenced by the recent seizure of the M/T Tifani, a sanctioned oil tanker, in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka. This seizure, occurring thousands of miles from the Persian Gulf, demonstrates a shift towards global enforcement of sanctions, with the US signaling that Iranian-linked shipping faces risks across international waters. Since the conflict's outbreak, UANI has tracked at least 73 Iranian oil loadings, totaling approximately 83 million barrels and generating over $6 billion for the IRGC.
