WASHINGTON, D.C. June 6, 2026 — U.S. military forces conducted a maritime interdiction and boarded the sanctioned, stateless oil tanker MT DAVINA (also known as Lenore) in the Indian Ocean, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) announced on Friday.
The operation took place overnight in international waters approximately 20 miles southwest of Sri Lanka. Video released by INDOPACOM shows U.S. Navy helicopters deploying personnel from the USS John L. Canley (ESB-6), an expeditionary mobile base, onto the massive vessel in a “right-of-visit” boarding. No incidents or resistance were reported.
The DAVINA, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) with a capacity of up to 2 million barrels of oil, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in October 2024 for its role in transporting Iranian crude oil, including shipments to China. It operates as part of Iran’s “shadow fleet,” using deceptive practices such as false registries (previously linked to Curaçao) to evade international sanctions.
INDOPACOM stated the action is part of “global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran.”
“This operation demonstrates the U.S. commitment to enforcing sanctions and countering Iran’s efforts to fund destabilizing activities through illicit oil sales,” a defense official familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The boarding aligns with broader U.S. efforts under the current administration to tighten pressure on Iran’s oil export networks amid ongoing regional tensions. Similar interdictions have targeted other vessels in the shadow fleet, which relies on ship-to-ship transfers and AIS spoofing to conceal operations.
Ship tracking data showed the DAVINA had been lingering in the area for weeks. Its current status following the boarding—whether seized, diverted, or released after inspection—has not been publicly detailed.
The incident highlights the U.S. Navy’s reach in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean, far from the Strait of Hormuz, as part of strategies to interdict sanctioned cargoes on the high seas under international maritime law, including provisions for boarding stateless vessels.
No immediate response from Iranian officials has been reported.
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