Mumbai court orders detained ‘shadow fleet’ tankers shifted to Alang amid maritime security concerns

The Bombay High Court has ordered three detained foreign tankers anchored off the Mumbai coast to be shifted to the Alang ship recycling yard in Gujarat, citing maritime safety risks and navigational concerns in the Arabian Sea.

The vessels involved in the case are MT Asphalt Star, MT Stellar Ruby, and MT Al Jafzia, which were intercepted earlier this year by the Indian Coast Guard over allegations linked to illegal Iranian bitumen transfers and suspected “shadow fleet” operations.

According to court proceedings, the tankers had remained detained offshore for nearly three months following investigations into alleged deceptive shipping practices, including switching off AIS tracking systems during cargo movements. Authorities reportedly suspect the vessels were involved in sanction-sensitive trade activities connected to Iranian cargo movements.

The Bombay High Court observed that keeping unmanned or partially manned vessels anchored for extended periods near busy maritime routes could pose security threats and obstruction risks to commercial navigation. The court therefore permitted the vessels to be relocated to Alang under continued legal custody of Indian authorities.

The case has drawn significant attention within the maritime industry because it highlights India’s growing scrutiny of shadow fleet tanker activities in regional waters amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf and expanding sanctions enforcement across global oil trade routes.

The detained vessels are reportedly owned by foreign entities registered in Panama, while legal proceedings regarding valuation, security deposits and future release permissions are still continuing before the court.

The development also comes at a time when India has intensified maritime monitoring operations in the Arabian Sea under enhanced regional security deployments aimed at protecting shipping lanes, energy imports and commercial vessel traffic amid the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis.