From 1 November, terminal operators in eastern China’s Huangdao Port will enforce stricter controls on aging and high-risk vessels, including those linked to sanctioned oil shipments. The policy bans tankers over 31 years old, ships using fake IMO numbers, and vessels with expired safety or pollution certificates. Analysts view the move as a precautionary response to growing US sanctions pressure and environmental concerns, though the overall impact on trade is expected to be limited given Huangdao’s smaller role in handling sanctioned cargoes. The measures mark a broader trend toward tighter scrutiny of shadow fleet operations across Chinese ports.