The US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned three vessels and their registered shipping companies for delivering refined petroleum products to ports under the control of Yemen’s Houthi group.
These sanctions target the San Marino-flagged Tulip BZ, the Panama-flagged Maisan, and the White Whale, also Panama-flagged.
According to the Treasury, these vessels delivered Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and gas oil to the Houthi controlled Red Sea port of Ras Isa after OFAC’s General License 25A (GL 25A) expired on April 4, 2025.
The deliveries were carried out by Zaas Shipping & Trading Co, Bagsak Shipping Inc, and Great Success Shipping, Co, which are registered in the Marshall Islands and Mauritius.
Tulip BZ, operated by Zaas Shipping, delivered LPG to Ras Isa and departed on April 10, six days after GL 25A expired.
OFAC stated that this vessel had also previously been involved in transporting petrochemical products for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under its former name, Gas Line.
The IRGC was sanctioned under Executive Order (E.O) 13224 for supporting terrorist groups, and the IRGC-Qods Force, a subdivision, was designated under the same order in 2007.
Maisan managed by Bagsak Shipping, discharged gas oil at Ras Isa and left the port on April 8, four days after the license was expired.
OFAC revealed that Maisan has been linked to the export of Russia crude oil and petroleum products since February 2023. It was earlier managed by a company known to operate in the shadow tanker fleet, helping bypass Western sanctions on Russian oil.
The third vessel, White Whale, linked to Great Success Shipping Co, also offloaded gas oil at Ras Isa and departed the port on April 17, thirteen days after the license expired.
All three companies-Bagsak Shipping, Great Success, and Zaas Shipping have been sanctioned under E.O. 13224 for materially supporting the Houthis.
The sanctions on the vessels aim to cut off funding and supplies to the Houthis. The group is accused of launching missiles, naval mines, and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthis generate large amounts of profits through their control of Yemeni Red Sea ports like Hudaydah, Al-Salif and Ras Isa by allowing shipments of refined petroleum products.
These are then sold on the Yemeni black market at extremely high prices. This not only funds their purchase of military equipment but also worsens shortages of goods for ordinary Yemenis.
The US designated the Houthis as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on February 16, 2024, and later a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) on March 4, 2025.
The Treasury has warned that supporting the Houthis not only violates sanctions but also puts ships and crew at serious risk of being targeted by the group.
OFAC has updated its guidance on April 16, 2025, for the shipping industry to help detect and prevent Iranian oil sanctions evasion. It also amended two general licenses.
GL 25A-which allowed the offloading of refined petroleum products in Houthi controlled areas- was terminated on April 4. The new GL 26A prohibits the import of such goods through any port or airport involving the Houthis.
The Tulip BZ, Maisan and White Whale have been officially identified as blocked property linked to their respective owners.
The Treasury also highlighted that two previously identified vessels- Clipper and Akoya Gas remain active despite being listed as blocked property.
Clipper, associated with an IRGC-Qods Force network, continues to transport Iranian oil, including butane and propane, to Houthi controlled areas.
Akoya Gas was seen docked at a Houthi port in mid-April 2025, despite its history of involvement in Iranian petrochemical exports.
Reference: US treasury
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