Port of Basra

🇮🇶 Iraq

Persian Gulf · Tanker Terminal

🟠 Sanctions program UN 1483 · EU IRAQ

Iraq is subject to legacy UN measures (UNSCR 1483) plus EU restrictive measures targeting specific persons.

🟡 Low disruption Estimated arrival delay ~3h · Disruption score 16/100
UN/LOCODE
IQBSR
Country
🇮🇶 Iraq
Port Type
Tanker Terminal
Ocean Region
Persian Gulf
Latitude
30.5200° N
Longitude
47.7800° E

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Joint War Committee listing

Listed area

Basra is inside a Joint War Committee listed area (circular JWLA-035, 16 September 2026):

A call here normally needs prior notice to war underwriters and may carry an additional premium; how the listing applies is agreed contract by contract.

Source: Joint War Committee circular JWLA-035, 16 September 2026 (LMA/IUA), JWC Listed Areas for hull war, piracy, terrorism and related perils.

Regional Risk Context — Persian Gulf

Vessels calling at Basra in Iraq operate in the most strategically contested maritime chokepoint in the world. Roughly one-third of seaborne oil transits the Strait of Hormuz adjacent to the port, and the Joint War Committee maintains listed-area designations covering this waterway. Iran's IRGCN has a documented history of detaining foreign-flagged tankers here, and drone and missile strikes on commercial shipping have become a recurring feature since 2019. Beyond kinetic threats, extreme heat, sandstorms, and a congested traffic separation scheme add operational complexity. Sanctions screening for any vessel with Iranian-trade exposure is mandatory — ArcNautical cross-references ownership chains against OFAC, UN, and EU lists before a voyage is committed.

Read the full Persian Gulf risk briefing →

Sea Distances

Routed sea distances from Basra to the principal global hubs, computed by ArcNautical's routing engine — around land and through the canals a ship actually uses, not great-circle.

Port State Control Context

Iraq is a multi-MoU jurisdiction (its port states participate in more than one regional PSC programme). Vessel-level detention probability for calls at Basra is computed by ArcNautical's scoring engine using flag performance, vessel age, deficiency history, and ownership opacity rather than a regional aggregate.

Vessel Mix

No port calls were observed at Basra between 29 Apr 2026 and 5 Aug 2026. This reflects the reach of the terrestrial AIS network behind this page — coverage is densest in Northwest Europe and thins elsewhere — and is not a statement about traffic at Basra. The feed has delivered no positions since 5 Aug 2026, so these figures will not change until it resumes.

Score a Voyage from Basra

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Nearby Ports

🇮🇶 Umm Qasr 🟠 Sanctions program
Iraq · Container Terminal · ~30 nm
🇮🇶 Al Faw (Grand Faw) 🟠 Sanctions program
Iraq · Multi-Purpose Port · ~49 nm
🇮🇷 Bandar Imam Khomeini 🔴 OFAC comprehensive
Iran · Multi-Purpose Port · ~67 nm
🇰🇼 Shuwaikh
Kuwait · Multi-Purpose Port · ~71 nm
🇰🇼 Mina Al Ahmadi
Kuwait · Tanker Terminal · ~89 nm
🇰🇼 Shuaiba
Kuwait · Tanker Terminal · ~91 nm
🇮🇷 Kharg Island 🔴 OFAC comprehensive
Iran · Tanker Terminal · ~153 nm
🇮🇷 Bushehr 🔴 OFAC comprehensive
Iran · Multi-Purpose Port · ~184 nm