US sanctioned VLCC awaits beaching in Ctg

The ‘Itaugua,’ a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) sanctioned by the US Treasury Department, is reportedly awaiting near Chattogram to be brought ashore for scrapping at a recycling yard, according to global shipping news source TradeWinds.
The vessel, flagged under Comoros, an East African island nation, is a 300,000-deadweight-tonnage (DWT) crude oil tanker built in Japan in 1997. The 28-year-old ship has surpassed its operational lifespan for maritime navigation.
Bangladesh’s Ministry of Industries Joint Secretary (Ship Recycling Wing) Sultana Yasmin confirmed to the Daily Sun that an application for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to bring the Itaugua to a Chattogram shipyard is currently under review. However, she stated that approval has not yet been granted, declining to provide further details.
Meanwhile, Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) Secretary Omar Faruk stated that no such vessel has sought permission to enter the port limits, nor has any such approval been granted.
According to TradeWinds, the US Treasury Department’s recent sanction on one of two VLCCs awaiting beaching off Chattogram is likely to jeopardise a deal to sell it to a recycling facility. The unexpected move against the Itaugua and its last owner, Itaugua Services, is reportedly deterring ship recyclers, many of whom had hoped to acquire other dark fleet tankers at steep discounts but are now reconsidering.
Market analysts suggest that the sudden sanctioning of the VLCC is discouraging recyclers from targeting dark fleet scrap candidates.
The United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a watchdog monitoring tankers transporting Iranian fuel oil, had included the Itaugua on its list of vessels accused of carrying Iranian cargo more than two years ago.
TradeWinds also reported this week that the vessel has been sold for recycling. In 2024, the Itaugua transported a total of 8,486,207 barrels of oil. It was last spotted in the Gulf of Oman in late July, carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil, according to sources.
Dr Shobod Deba Nath, professor at the Department of International Business at Dhaka University, commented, “The government should consider the concerns of our global partners.”
He added, “The Trump administration has been particularly vocal on matters affecting US interests. Therefore, decisions involving sanctioned vessels should be made with broader geopolitical considerations in mind.”