Aframax
Medium-sized crude tanker class; the type carrying Iranian oil to India under GL-U.
Last refreshed: 2 April 2026
Why are Aframax tankers central to the Iran oil smuggling route?
Latest on Aframax
- What is an Aframax tanker?
- A medium-sized crude oil tanker carrying 80,000 to 120,000 deadweight tonnes. The name comes from Shell's Average Freight Rate Assessment system.Source: background
- What tankers are carrying Iranian oil in 2026?
- Sanctioned Aframax tankers like the PING SHUN form the backbone of the shadow fleet transiting Hormuz under the IRGC toll system.Source: background
- How big is an Aframax compared to a VLCC?
- An Aframax carries roughly 600,000 barrels; a VLCC carries 2 million. Aframaxes suit restricted waterways like Hormuz; VLCCs require deep-water terminals.Source: quick_facts
Background
Aframax tankers carry between 80,000 and 120,000 deadweight tonnes of crude oil, making them the workhorses of regional crude trade. The sanctioned Aframax PING SHUN carried the first Iranian crude to reach India since 2019 under General License U.
The class name derives from the Average Freight Rate Assessment (AFRA) system used by Shell to categorise tankers by size. Aframaxes are smaller than Suezmaxes and VLCCs, making them suitable for ports and waterways with draught restrictions, including parts of the Strait of Hormuz corridor.
In the 2026 conflict, Aframax tankers form the backbone of the shadow fleet transiting Hormuz under the IRGC toll system. Windward data shows 128 million barrels of crude stranded in floating storage, much of it aboard Aframax and Suezmax vessels.
