Search vessels by name or IMO number against OFAC, UK, Canada, Australia and Switzerland sanctions lists. Get potential matches instantly.
Use this free vessel sanctions check to look up a ship by name or IMO number. You can search all supported lists at once or select a specific list.
A vessel's name can change, but its IMO number stays the same throughout its life. For this reason, searching by IMO number is often the best starting point for a ship sanctions check.
The IMO number is a unique, 7-digit identifier assigned to a ship. The last digit is a check digit used to validate the number. The identifier remains unchanged when the ship is renamed, sold or reflagged. It is also permanently marked on the hull.
Vessel names are less reliable identifiers because ships can operate under different names over time. Sanctioned tankers are often renamed and reflagged, which is one reason the shadow fleet is hard to track. Sanctions lists may include a vessel's former names as aliases, shown as "a.k.a." (also known as).
The Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) and call sign are also useful details, but they are tied to flag registration and can change when a ship changes flag. They are therefore weaker identifiers for confirming a vessel's identity across different records.
Check the ship's certificates or the bill of lading. You can also look up the vessel in Equasis, a free ship information database that requires registration. Once you have the IMO number, enter it in the search above.
Each result provides vessel details that help you compare the entry with the ship you are checking. Depending on the information published in the source list, a result can include:
FENGSHUN, a.k.a. VENUS 7 – LPG tanker – flag: Eswatini – IMO 9007386 – MMSI 374350000 – program: SDGT – linked to KAI HENG LONG GLOBAL ENERGY LIMITED.
The same ship is also listed as VENUS 7. The IMO number ties both names to one vessel.
The match score indicates how closely a search result matches the information you entered. A match on the IMO number is a strong signal because that identifier is assigned to the ship for life. A match on the vessel name alone is a lead to verify, not proof that the entry refers to the same vessel. Compare the IMO number and flag before drawing conclusions.
One search checks all of the following lists at once, so you do not need to visit each regulator's website separately.
The OFAC Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List includes vessels designated under programs such as Iran, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela and counter-terrorism (SDGT). Vessel entries usually include the IMO number, call sign, flag and vessel type.
The UK Sanctions List includes ships specified under the UK's Russia sanctions regulations.
Canada's list includes vessels listed under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, mostly oil tankers.
Australia's Consolidated List includes vessels designated under the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011.
Switzerland's list includes vessels listed by SECO under the Ordinance on Measures in connection with the Situation in Ukraine.
Yes. Sanctions authorities can designate or list vessels directly, rather than listing only people or organizations associated with them. A vessel entry may include identifiers such as its name, IMO number, flag and vessel type.
No. Search by vessel name or IMO number. MMSI and call sign appear in the results when the source list includes them.
Yes. You can search vessels for free without an account.
Sanctions data is synced every 15 minutes. The tool shows when the lists were last updated, so you can see how fresh the data is.
SanctionsLookup