Tomer Raanan
tldraanan.bsky.social
Tomer Raanan
@tldraanan.bsky.social
Senior reporter at Lloyd’s List covering the maritime industry. Views my own.

www.lloydslist.com
Pinned
A tanker acquired by the UN for $55m to prevent a massive oil spill off Yemen is essentially being used by the #Houthis as floating storage for Russian oil, while costs for running the vessel are still being fronted by the UN.

With @lloydslisted.bsky.social.

www.lloydslist.com/LL1154126/Ex...
Exclusive: How a UN-purchased tanker became a Houthi floating storage facility for Russian oil
A VLCC acquired by the UN for $55m to prevent a massive oil spill off Yemen is essentially being used by the Houthis as floating storage for Russian oil, while costs for running the vessel are still being fronted by the UN
www.lloydslist.com
Reposted by Tomer Raanan
In case you missed it:

🚨UN funding Houthis' massive oil tanker
haaretz.com/israel-news/...

🚨Iran exposes thousands of Israelis, veterans of classified units
www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...
As Israel strikes Yemen, investigation reveals UN funding Houthis' massive oil tanker
***
haaretz.com
July 12, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Reposted by Tomer Raanan
Superb tracking here from @pa.nton.cx. I am intrigued to see if either ship is ultimately stopped, or if this is just a case of enhanced monitoring. None of the NB8++ governments have been keen to talk recently. Our report from earlier this week now free to read:
www.lloydslist.com/LL1154431/Ba...
August 7, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The Houthis are increasingly relying on sanctioned tonnage to ship oil into Ras Isa, while more tankers are calling at the port with AIS off.

While the US & the #Houthis reached a truce in May, US #sanctions remain in place, and are driving more of the Houthis’ oil trade into the shadows.

#oott
July 22, 2025 at 3:05 AM
A tanker acquired by the UN for $55m to prevent a massive oil spill off Yemen is essentially being used by the #Houthis as floating storage for Russian oil, while costs for running the vessel are still being fronted by the UN.

With @lloydslisted.bsky.social.

www.lloydslist.com/LL1154126/Ex...
Exclusive: How a UN-purchased tanker became a Houthi floating storage facility for Russian oil
A VLCC acquired by the UN for $55m to prevent a massive oil spill off Yemen is essentially being used by the Houthis as floating storage for Russian oil, while costs for running the vessel are still being fronted by the UN
www.lloydslist.com
July 7, 2025 at 10:48 PM
The number of tankers anchored off #Houthi -held Ras Isa port has dwindled sharply in recent weeks.

Increase in vessels switching off AIS likely a small factor, not significant enough to drive the trend. Satellite imagery likewise shows the anchorage has emptied.

#oott
June 28, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Vessels that were scrapped years ago are increasingly reappearing in the market after being “resurrected” in elaborate sanctions-skirting schemes.

Watch video below to see how US-blacklisted VLCC Jaya delivered Iranian oil to China under the identity of tanker scrapped more than 3 years ago.

#oott
June 14, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Free to read: The Cook Islands flag registry has been removed from the Registry Information Sharing Compact due to a breach of the compact’s policy, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

#shipping #oott

www.lloydslist.com/LL1153506
Cook Islands registry removed from flag states’ information-sharing compact
The Cook Islands registry has been ejected from RISC, the information-sharing database launched to prevent sanctions-skirting tankers from hopping between flags, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter
www.lloydslist.com
May 21, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Free to view: April’s US strikes left #Ras_Isa in ruins, but the #Houthi port resumed operations relatively quickly. However, the risks — from security to sanctions — still loom large, despite the US-Houthi ceasefire.

With @bdiakun.bsky.social.

www.lloydslist.com/LL1153494/Bo...
Bombarded Ras Isa port resumes operations as security and sanction threats linger
US air strikes in April wreaked havoc on Ras Isa, but the port, which relies on rudimentary infrastructure to slowly unload oil and gas tankers, appears to have resumed operations relatively quickly. Meanwhile, the threats of Israeli air strikes and US sanctions remain
www.lloydslist.com
May 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Free to read: The unusual story of how an LPG tanker’s maiden voyage ended with Ofac sanctioning a sprawling Iranian gas network — including the 2024-built vessel itself.

#shipping #sanctions #oott

www.lloydslist.com/LL1153240/EX...
EXCLUSIVE: How an LPG tanker’s maiden voyage ended with the US sanctioning a sprawling Iranian gas network
A 2024-built very large gas carrier, <em>Tinos I</em>, arrived in Houston on June 2024 on its maiden voyage but has been sat at anchor since without lifting a cargo. Now, US authorities have sanctioned the vessel, along with the entire network of companies behind it, all operated by the Dubai-based gas magnate Seyed Asadoollah Emamjomeh who has for many years been the Iranian LPG kingpin
www.lloydslist.com
April 23, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The US is seeking to forfeit $47m in proceeds from the sale of Iranian oil offloaded in Croatia in 2022 and sold last year

#OOTT #Shipping

www.lloydslist.com/LL1153000
US files lawsuit for $47m of proceeds from sale of Iranian oil offloaded in Croatia
US prosecutors have filed a civil forfeiture complaint for $47m in proceeds from the sale of Iranian oil offloaded in Croatia in 2022 and sold last year&nbsp;
www.lloydslist.com
March 27, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Tomer Raanan
Hearings on the US port fee proposal wrapped up today. If this goes forward as drafted, there will be some very large unintended consequences. Here’s an in-depth look at one of the most extreme cases: the severe effects these fees would have on the Caribbean trade. www.lloydslist.com/LL1152999/US...
US port fees could ‘cripple’ Caribbean, force islands to buy more from China
The Caribbean offers a case study in the severe unintended consequences of the US port fee plan. This market is uniquely vulnerable to fallout. Businesses in the islands are already exploring replacement options for US exports
www.lloydslist.com
March 26, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Free to read: The designation of a teapot refinery in Shandong and a petchem storage terminal in Guangdong signals an escalation in the Trump administration’s crackdown on Iran and third parties involved in its oil trade

#oott #sanctions

www.lloydslist.com/LL1152936/Ma...
‘Maximum pressure’ ramps up as Ofac sanctions Chinese ‘teapot’ refinery
The US ramped up the pressure on Iran and purchasers of its oil on Thursday, imposing fresh sanctions on a Chinese ‘teapot’ refinery in Shandong province. Eight tankers and 13 companies and individuals were also designated
www.lloydslist.com
March 21, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Tomer Raanan
Major shipping news RE: US vs China. US has proposed new port fees of up to $1.5M per US call for Chinese-built ships. Even non-Chinese ship operators with a single Chinese-built ship or a single order at a Chinese yard could be required to pay $500,000 per day: www.lloydslist.com/LL1152667/Sw...
Sweeping US plan to target Chinese ships would snare many non-Chinese operators
The US Trade Representative proposal that targets Chinese maritime and shipbuilding interests is extremely aggressive and represents the largest financial threat to vessel operators thus far during the Trump administration. If the proposal is approved by the US president, it would have major implications for all US import and export trades in all shipping sectors
www.lloydslist.com
February 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
A crackdown on Iran’s #LPG exports and the gas carriers facilitating them could boost demand for mainstream #VLGCs, but the details and scope will matter.

See more about the Iran-trading VLGC fleet and how a US crackdown could impact the market in this free-to-read article.

#sanctions #shipping
How ‘Maximum Pressure 2.0’ could play out in VLGC market
VLGCs were unscathed by US sanctions until last year but the pace of designations may pick up under the new US administration. If new sanctions are imposed — and enforced — mainstream owners may benefit from even a relatively modest cut to Iran’s LPG exports
www.lloydslist.com
February 23, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Reposted by Tomer Raanan
US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick vows to tax foreign-flag ships calling at US ports, specifically citing the example of cruise ships and tankers. As with tariffs, a portion of the added cost would theoretically be passed along to US consumers and businesses. See story: tinyurl.com/mrynfmr2
Trump administration official vows to tax foreign-flag ships calling at US ports
On one hand, US commerce secretary Harold Lutnick’s pledge to tax foreign-flag ships could be just talk. On the other, cruise stocks lost $9bn in market cap on Thursday as a result of those comments —&nbsp;and Lutnick also mentioned tankers
www.lloydslist.com
February 20, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Free to read: The already tenuous prospect of a return to the #Red_Sea became dimmer on Monday, with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which the #Houthis claimed predicated the near-total end of their Red Sea blockade, hitting a snag.

With @bdiakun.bsky.social
‘Let hell break out’: Gaza ceasefire snag looms over Red Sea return
The end of the Houthis’ Red Sea aggression has been tied to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, the continuation of which is now in doubt
www.lloydslist.com
February 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Reposted by Tomer Raanan
Here’s an overview of what happened at this week’s Senate hearing on the Panama Canal (which is owned by Panama and can’t be taken back by the US except by force) plus some fact-check perspective. Free to read from Lloyd’s List: tinyurl.com/bdfuyfxv
Why would US invade Panama? US Senate hearing gives rationale
US Senate hearing speakers theorised that Chinese workers could collapse under-construction bridge over Panama Canal, directed by spies in Balboa and Cristobal ‘observation posts’, to block US military forces from responding to a Chinese attack in Taiwan
tinyurl.com
January 31, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Iranian gas cargo discharged in Bangladesh after China U-turn
Iranian gas cargo discharged in Bangladesh after China U-turn
Amid reports that Chinese buyers are hesitant of running afoul of US sanctions, a VLGC likely carrying Iran-origin LPG to China made an unusual U-turn after spending two weeks at anchor in December
www.lloydslist.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Reposted by Tomer Raanan
FREE TO READ: Russia-linked Eagle S seized by Finland over damage to undersea electricity cable, was previously loaded with special transmitting and receiving devices to monitor NATO activity, according to source with direct involvement in ship: www.lloydslist.com/LL1151955/Ru...
Russia-linked cable-cutting tanker seized by Finland ‘was loaded with spying equipment’
<em>Eagle S</em>, the Russia-linked tanker suspected of damaging an underwater electricity cable on Christmas Day, was kitted out with special transmitting and receiving devices that were used to monitor naval activity, according to a source with direct involvement in the ship, which has since been detained by Finnish police
www.lloydslist.com
December 27, 2024 at 4:52 PM
While Tehran is known to be supporting the #Houthis militarily, an analysis of shipping data suggests the Yemeni faction also came to rely on Iran for LPG imports after they began attacking merchant ships in Nov 2023.

However, a recent shipment suggests the Houthis may be seeking to diversify.
Houthis seek to diversify gas imports
Tehran no longer sole supplier to Yemeni rebel faction
www.lloydslist.com
December 3, 2024 at 4:01 AM