Iran Turns Back Pakistan-Bound Container Ship SELEN at Strait of Hormuz, Vessel Now Reroutes to Mumbai

In a notable display of tightened maritime control amid rising regional tensions, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy denied passage to the small container ship SELEN through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in late March 2026, forcing the vessel, originally bound for Karachi, Pakistan, to reverse course. The ship has since changed its destination and is now en route to Mumbai, India, according to live AIS tracking data.

The incident occurred around March 23–24 when the 658-TEU feeder container ship SELEN (IMO 9208459), flagged in St. Kitts and Nevis and managed by a Dubai-based operator, departed from Sharjah Anchorage in the United Arab Emirates heading toward Karachi. AIS data showed the vessel abruptly reversing near the entrance to the strait, close to Qeshm Island, after being intercepted by IRGC forces.

IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri publicly confirmed the action on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the ship was turned back due to its failure to comply with “legal protocols” and lack of prior permission to transit the waterway. “The container ship SELEN was turned back by the IRGC Navy… All vessels must now coordinate passage with Iranian maritime authorities,” Tangsiri said.

The SELEN, a relatively old vessel built in 2000 with a capacity of around 658 twenty-foot equivalent units, was reportedly carrying food supplies and other general cargo destined for Pakistan. It is not a Pakistani-owned or flagged ship; ownership and management links trace to commercial entities in the UAE region.

Following the denial, the vessel lingered in the Persian Gulf before updating its voyage details. As of early April 2026, AIS tracking platforms such as VesselFinder confirm the SELEN is now proceeding toward Mumbai, India, currently positioned in the Arabian Sea or approaching from the Persian Gulf area at approximately 10–11 knots. Earlier reported ETAs around late March appear to have shifted due to the rerouting and any associated delays.