Sanctioned shadow fleet tankers increasingly targeted for scrapping in Alang

Sanctioned ‘shadow fleet’ oil tankers are increasingly being sent to shipbreaking yards in Alang-Sosiya, Gujarat, as legal and regulatory pressures mount. Data indicates that 26 prohibited vessels, totaling 2.1 million deadweight tonnage, have been sold for scrapping, with 22 of these being oil tankers. These sanctioned vessels now represent 58 percent of all global tanker demolition activity.

The shift occurs as tightening Western sanctions make it difficult for owners of aging tankers—often used to circumvent Russian oil export restrictions—to maintain insurance, classification, or port access. This trend comes amid a broader contraction in the global ship recycling industry, where total demolition activity has fallen by 14 percent year-on-year.

Separately, visible maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to fewer than 20 vessels over a weekend, according to Kpler data. However, reports suggest this may not fully reflect actual cargo flow, as a significant portion of liquid cargo has recently utilized an Omani route or traveled with transponders switched off to avoid detection amid ongoing regional tensions and US-led sanctions.