Tehran: An Iranian maritime organization has placed 77 vessels on a Non-Compliance List for violating Tehran's protocols for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a list published by the organization.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) stated that vessels violating Iranian protocols for the strategic waterway would face restrictions on future passages. These restrictions could include possible fines, detention, or confiscation. The organization also issued a warning to insurance companies, protection and indemnity (PandI) clubs, and classification societies, advising them against providing services to vessels on the list due to potential consequences.

The PGSA urged cargo owners shipping to or from the Gulf to verify the Non-Compliance List before chartering vessels to avoid possible complications. It further stated that any vessel collaborating with a listed ship, including through ship-to-ship transfers or transshipment operations, would also be added to the list. Vessels seeking removal from the list must submit a formal application with justification.

The organization did not specify in the notice the individual violations attributed to any of the 77 vessels. The PGSA, established by Iran, regulates vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Under Tehran's transit mechanism, vessels are required to coordinate with the authority and obtain authorization before passing through the waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz, positioned between Iran and Oman, connects the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is a crucial maritime route for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The waterway has been central to heightened regional tensions, with Tehran imposing restrictions on maritime traffic amid its conflict with the US.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned the PGSA in May, accusing it of links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and of forcing commercial vessels to pay tolls for passage through the strait.