Kharg Island Sits at a Complete Export Standstill
Kharg Island‘s crude export pipeline has been at a complete standstill since July 31, with all three terminals empty, zero Vortexa-recorded departures across 10 days, and the waiting area holding 17 dark stationary tankers. This unprecedented halt in exports is a direct result of the renewed U.S. naval blockade.
The sustained terminal vacancy across all three berths, combined with zero Vortexa-recorded departures over a 10-day window, represents the most complete export halt since the conflict began. Financial Times reporting via Iran International on August 8 corroborates the Windward assessment, confirming no tankers have been loading at Kharg Island for at least a week under the renewed U.S. naval blockade.
Russian Convoy on the Arctic Route
An unprecedented convoy of eight sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tankers is coordinating passage through the Northern Sea Route, a scale with no recorded precedent in 2025 tracking data. This development marks a significant shift in Russia’s tactics to bypass European naval enforcement and maintain oil exports.
The convoy’s passage through the Arctic Route highlights the ongoing efforts by Russia to find alternative routes for its oil exports. The move comes as Russian diesel exports collapsed 83% in July to approximately 150,000 barrels per day, down from a 2025 average of approximately 900,000 barrels per day.
Enforcement Pressure on Sanctioned Export Pipelines
Both sanctioned export pipelines are under their most acute enforcement pressure since the conflict began. On the Iranian side, Kharg Island‘s crude export pipeline has been at a complete standstill since July 31, with all three terminals empty and zero Vortexa-recorded departures across 10 days.
On the Russian side, an unprecedented convoy of eight sanctioned shadow fleet tankers is running the Northern Sea Route to bypass European naval enforcement. This development marks a significant shift in Russia’s tactics to maintain oil exports despite sanctions.
Operational Risk Environment
Windward assesses the operational risk environment across the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, northern Arabian Gulf, and Black Sea as critical, with both sanctioned export pipelines under acute enforcement pressure while workaround routing remains visibly available on both fronts.
Vessels Mentioned
- SMYRTOS (IMO: 9389100)
- MINOAN PIONEER (IMO: 9471630)
Original Article: Kharg Standstill and a Russian Convoy on the Arctic Route — Windward