Indian Scrapyards Welcome Growing Number of Dark Fleet Tankers

At least three vessels subject to United States sanctions have arrived in recent weeks at the Alang demolition hub on India’s western coast. This follows a record 15 dark fleet tankers sent to these scrapyards last year, signalling a rebound in the business despite concerns surrounding the handling of sanctioned vessels.

The Woodchip, constructed in 1993 and sanctioned by the United States in 2021 under a previous designation, represents the third tanker to dock at Alang in less than a month. This information derives from vessel tracking data, agent reports, and sources familiar with the transactions.

The total number of sanctioned tankers arriving at Alang thus far in 2026 already constitutes 20 per cent of the 15 dark fleet vessels received throughout 2025. These ageing ships, significantly older than their legitimate counterparts, pose substantial environmental risks if permitted to continue servicing sanctioned oil deliveries beyond their operational viability.

The uptick in tracked arrivals at Indian scrapyards indicates that some of the global shadow fleet’s oldest vessels are finally reaching retirement. This development coincides with reduced demand for such ships following the United States intervention in Venezuela and the subsequent legitimisation of Venezuelan oil sales under American oversight.

Washington assumed control of Venezuela’s oil sales in early January 2026, authorising two of the world’s largest independent traders, Vitol and Trafigura, to market crude oil to buyers across the United States, Europe, India, and China. Before the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, approximately 128 dark fleet tankers serviced Venezuelan oil exports, according to data from shipbroker Braemar.

Prior to the policy shift, the majority of Venezuelan crude shipments were destined for China, where they remained under United States sanctions and relied on sanctioned vessels to deliver primarily to independent refineries, commonly known as teapots, in Shandong province.