PING SHUN
Sanctioned Aframax tanker; carried first Iranian crude to India since 2019.
Last refreshed: 2 April 2026
How did Iranian oil reach India through a near-total blockade?
Latest on PING SHUN
- What is the PING SHUN tanker?
- A sanctioned Aframax crude tanker that delivered 600,000 barrels of Iranian oil from Kharg Island to Vadinar, India, the first such delivery since 2019.Source: background
- How is Iranian oil getting through the blockade?
- Sanctioned tankers like PING SHUN transit through the IRGC's toll corridor at Larak Island. General License U provides legal cover for buyers. Only 11 vessels per day transit Hormuz, down 93% from pre-war.Source: background
- What is an Aframax tanker?
- A medium-sized crude oil tanker of roughly 80,000 to 120,000 deadweight tonnes, commonly used for regional crude deliveries.Source: quick_facts
Background
The PING SHUN delivered 600,000 barrels of Iranian crude from Kharg Island to Vadinar, India, in late March 2026, the first Iranian oil to reach India since May 2019. The delivery was authorised under General License U, a 30-day US Treasury waiver.
The vessel is a sanctioned Aframax (medium-sized crude tanker, roughly 80,000-120,000 deadweight tonnes). It transited the Strait of Hormuz under the IRGC toll system and delivered to Reliance Industries at Vadinar refinery on India's western coast.
The PING SHUN delivery is a proof of concept: Iranian crude can still reach a buyer despite near-total commercial shipping collapse in the strait. 128 million barrels remain stranded in floating storage. If GL-U expires on 19 April without renewal, the legal basis for deliveries like this disappears.
