U.S. strike disables would-be blockade buster Marivex

Image: CENTCOM

CENTCOM said yesterday that U.S. forces had disabled the unladen oil tanker M/T Marivex in the Gulf of Oman, June 8, after the vessel violated the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iran by attempting to sail to an Iranian port.

An F/A-18 Super Hornet from USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fired a precision munition into the Marivex’s engineering and steering spaces after the crew failed to comply with directions from U.S. forces.

CENTCOM noted “Marivex is no longer sailing to Iran.” According to a post on X by Windward AI, Marivex (IMO 9464156), a Palau-flagged oil products tanker sanctioned under the Iran program for a call at Shahid Rajai in April 2026, is now anchored off Oman following a reported onboard fire and full crew evacuation.

In fact, Marivex is no longer Palau flagged.

The Palau Ship Registry (PSR) says that it notes that certain media reports have described M/T Marivex (IMO 9464156) as a vessel registered under the Palau flag. This claim is inaccurate.

For the avoidance of any misunderstanding, M/T Marivex was not registered with the Palau Ship Registry at the time of the incident in the Gulf of Oman reported in the media.

M/T Marivex previously known as Arihant has not held valid registration certificates issued by the Palau Ship Registry since 6 March 2026, when a Certificate of Closure of Registry was issued following the vessel’s deletion from the Palau flag.

Accordingly, on 8 June 2026, the date referenced in the relevant reports, the vessel did not hold valid registration certificates issued by the Republic of Palau.

PSR has already informed the relevant authorities and provided the supporting records confirming the vessel’s deletion, while remaining committed to maintaining accurate vessel registration records and the integrity of the Palau flag.

The Marivex action took the total number of would-be blockade busters disabled by CENTCOM forces to seven non-compliant vessels. Another 134 ships that complihave been redirected and 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid have been allowed to pass.

IRIS Makran capsizes

The latest daily update from Windward notes that EO imagery [hi-resolution satellite photography] has confirmed that IRIS Makran, Iran’s largest naval vessel by tonnage, has capsized at her mooring. The vessel is on its side and partially submerged at the mooring location. Iran’s largest naval vessel by tonnage, has capsized at her mooring. The vessel is on its side and partially submerged at the mooring location.

IRIS Makran is a 237-meter Forward Support Ship, converted from a former Aframax tanker to create somewhat of a low-budget version of a U.S. Expeditionary Sea Base ship.

Windward says that the vessel was severely damaged in the March 1, 2026, strikes on Bandar Abbas and initially remained afloat but on fire. Subsequent collections documented progressive structural failure across the months following the strikes. The June 9 imagery confirms the catastrophic damage caused by progressive flooding and eventual capsize. The vessel is assessed as a total loss and is not recoverable.

Read the full Windward AI update HERE