Washington has widened its crackdown on Iran’s shadow fleet, sanctioning a Greek-Panamanian law firm, shipping agents in Singapore and Dubai, and nine vessels in a move targeting the service providers behind Tehran’s commodity exports.
Announcing the measures yesterday, the US Treasury said Karnakis and Karnakis had established corporate structures for shipowners moving hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Iranian oil, LPG, petrochemicals and steel. Five individuals linked to the practice have also been designated.
Among the companies blacklisted is Roxette Maritime Shipping and Trading, the Panama- and Greece-based manager of seven Panama-flagged bulk carriers and general cargo ships. Treasury identified Anemos, Gloris and Pride as having carried Iranian-origin cargoes over the past year. The group’s other designated ships are Destiny, Flamingo 1, Harmony and Prince.
Singapore-based Amigoz Singapore was sanctioned for acting as port agent for a shipment of Iranian light crude and providing bunkering services to the shadow fleet tanker Zixuan. Treasury also linked the company to networks associated with Iranian shipping figure Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani.
Dubai-based Whales Shipping Line was designated for supporting Amigoz and acting as shipping agent for a company accused of arranging Iranian petrochemical purchases. Its two UAE-flagged support vessels, Whales Diamond and Whales Pearl, were also blacklisted.
The action forms part of Operation Economic Outcast, launched in August, which is intended to cut Iran off from international financial and shipping services.
US authorities are simultaneously investigating a Greek bank’s possible links with Iran, underlining the campaign’s extension from ships and owners to lawyers, agents and financiers. The bank was not named.
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Sam Chambers
Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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