UANI’s Shipping Campaign Roundup
Leadership and Impact
Administration should help under-resourced countries prevent sanctions evasion by rogue states
UANI CEO Ambassador Mark Wallace and Chairman Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, writing in The Hill on February 22, argue that more needs to be done by the U.S. government to help smaller, resource-challenged countries comply with U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil smuggling, consistent with what the U.S. already does with respect to financial crimes, including money laundering, terror financing, intellectual property theft, and counterfeit merchandise: “American extra-territorial ‘secondary’ sanctions that compel behavioral changes in non-U.S. entities by threatening access to U.S. markets are an effective American policy tool. Few companies opt to forego access to the world’s largest consumer market in favor of rogue countries like Iran that are subject to U.S. sanctions. Unfortunately, targeted countries like Iran are adept at developing complex sanctions evasion techniques that rely on the involvement of unwitting governments and businesses. The U.S. could increase the impact of its sanctions efforts by sharply boosting the capabilities of smaller and under-resourced nations that fall victim to these sanctions evasion schemes… President Joe Biden and Congress should use the next International Affairs Budget, which guides U.S. diplomatic engagement with the world, to reassert American leadership and make a robust commitment to helping our friends and allies protect themselves against Iranian chicanery while advancing our own interests… If, however, the U.S. continues to ask flagging foreign authorities to fend for themselves, we can expect that Iran will take advantage of their lagging capabilities to continue to enrich itself through smuggled energy resources. Adversaries including China, Russia and Venezuela will become increasingly brazen in their disregard for sanctions. Bad actors in the private sector will be emboldened to take on other types of illicit cargo, such as weaponry. And those least capable of enforcement will continue facing the brunt of the risk of potential sanctions violations.”
On February 1, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, in a major address in the U.S. Senate, voiced his frustrations over the billions earned by Iran through the smuggling of sanctioned oil and gas condensates, and urged stronger enforcement by the Biden Administration of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil. In his speech, Chairman Menendez referenced UANI data related to Iran’s ongoing clandestine oil smuggling network: “Using a sophisticated web of shipping, delivery, and tanker flagging techniques, private energy analysts – here’s where we see their abilities in this space here to make these transfers that ultimate go to China – through tanker flagging techniques, private energy analysts estimate China bought an average between 350,000 and 650,000 barrels per day last year and according to United Against Nuclear Iran this amounted to roughly ten billion dollars going to the regime, in violation of existing sanctions. We cannot turn a blind eye to these violations. The Biden administration must rigorously enforce our sanctions, including targeting Chinese entities in a way that will impose a serious cost. We must use our sanctions to crush the illicit, underground economy of Iranian oil shipments throughout the world.”
Why is Joe Biden letting Iran off the hook?
UANI Senior Advisor Ambassador Nikki Haley, writing in the Washington Examiner on February 3, quotes UANI research statistics to illuminate the lack of sanctions enforcement against Iran by the Biden Administration: “For years, the U.S. has applied unprecedented sanctions on Iranian oil shipments, which finance terrorists across the Middle East and military assaults on American troops. Yet last year, Iran still shipped 40% more oil than it had the year before. That’s only possible because Biden refused to enforce sanctions. The way the Biden administration talks, it’s only thinking about loosening sanctions on Iran. That is false. Biden has already given Iran relief. Iran has made at least $15 billion that should have been off the table. And based on history, we know exactly where it is headed: more money for terrorists and millions that threaten America and our allies… United Against Nuclear Iran, which tracks Iran’s oil exports, shows that Iranian oil trade to China was up by 62% as of November. Without consequences for its actions, communist China is sure to import even more Iranian oil this year. Holding Iran accountable has never been more important. Even before Biden foolishly and sneakily took the pressure off Iran, the ayatollahs were continuing their march toward a nuclear weapon. They’ve also strengthened their support for terrorists while building advanced drones and a cyberwarfare operation… It says a lot that Iran thinks it can get away with so much, including sanctioning me. It’s time for the Biden administration to show Iran that it can’t, starting with enforcing the law and stopping Iran’s oil shipments. Anything less is an insult to the public and a gift to an enemy who wants to destroy us.”
10 U.S. Senators Call on President Biden to Enforce Iranian Oil Sanctions
On January 28, 10 U.S. senators co-signed a letter to President Biden strongly urging him to enforce sanctions on tankers smuggling Iranian oil as well as the purchasers. Citing data from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), the senators highlighted how the Biden Administration’s inadequate enforcement of U.S. sanctions since coming into office has resulted in a more than 40 percent year-over-year increase in Iranian oil exports and a 135 percent increase in the number of foreign-flagged vessels that comprise the Islamic Republic’s “Ghost Armada” from November 2020 to January 2022. Each month, UANI’s Iran Tanker Tracker charts Iran’s exports of crude oil and gas to countries around the world. By UANI’s estimates, three-quarters of Iranian oil exports– approximately 310 million barrels – were offloaded in Chinese ports last year. This has earned the Islamic Republic billions of dollars in revenues. As the letter noted: “As a result of this surge in oil sales, Iranian currency reserves soared from just $4 billion at the end of 2020 to $31 billion at the end of 2021. These Chinese purchases give the Iranian regime a vital lifeline and flout U.S. sanctions with impunity. While your administration has reportedly warned China and other countries about the sanctions risks to their companies, these entities remain unpunished.” UANI President David Ibsen echoed these concerns: “The Administration claims that it has not eased sanctions against Iran, but its lack of enforcement is de facto sanctions relief. It is no coincidence that Iran’s malign behavior has increased as it successfully exports more oil.”
UANI in the News
Group alleges U.S. firm’s tanker illicitly traded Iran oil
A February 17 Associated Press story detailed evidence compiled by UANI proving that the oil tanker Suez Rajan, owned by Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management’s subsidiary Fleetscape, took part in an illegal ship-to-ship oil transfer of up to one million gallons of Iranian crude oil off the coast of Singapore with Panamanian-flagged tanker Virgo. While the owners and operators of the Suez Rajan promised to undertake a thorough investigation of the incident, to date, they have not revealed the results of their inquiry. UANI has repeatedly called on Oaktree and Fleetscape to transparently release all information related to the Suez Rajan’s smuggling of Iranian oil, and to divert the Suez Rajan to a U.S. port for the proper administration of the sanctioned oil. “A tanker owned by a Los Angeles-based private equity firm likely took part in the illicit trade of Iranian crude oil at sea despite American sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic amid the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers, an advocacy group alleges. The firm said Thursday it is cooperating with U.S. government investigators. The group United Against Nuclear Iran raised its allegations in a letter dated Tuesday to Oaktree Capital Management, which holds assets worth over $160 billion. Satellite images and maritime tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press correspond to the group’s identification of the vessels allegedly involved and showed them side-by-side off the coast of Singapore on Saturday… The Central Bank of Iran issued statistics at the start of February suggesting it made $18.6 billion in oil sales in the first half of this Persian year, as opposed to $8.5 billion the same period last year, according to the state-run IRAN newspaper. Much of that oil is believed to be heading to China, some through similar ship-to-ship transfers that United Against Nuclear Iran believes took place with the Suez Raja this week. Venezuela also has received Iranian tankers to its ports.” Additional media coverage: Reuters and Lloyd’s List.
Greek manager of Oaktree-backed tanker says probing possible Iran oil transfer
A February 21 Reuters story detailed responses from the companies that manage and finance the oil tanker Suez Rajan in response to UANI’s findings that the ship received up to one million gallons of sanctioned Iranian oil in a ship-to-ship transfer. “Greece-based Empire Navigation said it is investigating whether Iranian oil was transferred onto one of the vessels it manages, after a U.S. advocacy group first made such allegation last week… UK-based maritime company Fleetscape, which is backed by U.S. investment firm Oaktree Capital Management, earlier said it was looking into the possible transfer of Iranian oil onto the Suez Rajan, which it finances, after United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) first contacted Oaktree. Fleetscape added it had ‘no role in the operation of Empire’s fleet.’ U.S. officials have not commented so far. UANI said in a February 15 letter seen by Reuters it believed Iranian oil was transferred to the Suez Rajan from a vessel called the Virgo on Feb. 13. The group said the Virgo was suspected of picking up oil from Iran's Kharg Island terminal on Jan. 22.” Additional media coverage: TradeWinds.
Sept. 11 victims seek seizure of Iran oil from U.S.-owned tanker
A March 3 Reuters article detailing efforts by victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks to seek the seizure of Iranian crude oil from an American private equity firm-owned tanker to help satisfy a $3.61 billion judgment against Iran referenced UANI’s February 15 letter exposing the tanker’s receipt of illegal Iranian oil. “Its London-based Fleetscape unit, which provides lease financing for the Suez Rajan, in a statement on Friday said it was committed to honoring U.S. sanctions, took accusations of violations seriously, and was cooperating with U.S. authorities. The request came after the nonprofit United Against Nuclear Iran, which uses satellite images to track tanker movement, wrote Oaktree on February 15 that the Suez Rajan appeared to have taken on the oil from another tanker. Even if the oil were seized, sales proceeds at current prices would cover only about 3% of the $3.61 billion judgment.” Additional media coverage: Associated Press.
Iranian supertanker carrying condensate docks in Venezuela
A February 2 Associated Press story detailed the arrival of the National Iranian Tanker Company-owned Starla, carrying more than 2 million barrels of condensate, at a Venezuelan port, despite the fact that both countries are subject to U.S. sanctions. “The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the company in October 2020, saying it helped fund the expeditionary Quds Force of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Starla represented the first known condensate shipment of 2022 from Iran to Venezuela. ‘Claire Jungman, the chief of staff at the New York-based group United Against Nuclear Iran who also tracks Iranian oil shipments, similarly identified the Starla from satellite images. Jungman said her organization had tracked an uptick in covert Iranian oil sales to China and Venezuela that she described as the countries ‘seeing how far they can push the Biden administration. If the U.S. is going to just keep letting them slide by … Iran is going to keep stalling,’ Jungman said. ‘They are getting what they want by the lack of enforcement on sanctions.’”
U.S. seized Iran oil cargo as Biden considers easing sanctions
A March 10 Associated Press story describing the U.S. seizure of $38 million in smuggled Iranian oil from two tankers included UANI quotes and relied heavily on UANI research data. “Opponents of Iran warn that even as Ukraine scrambles geopolitical calculations and the U.S. turns its attention to Russia, the Biden administration shouldn’t take pressure off the Islamic Republic. The country is considered by the U.S. a state sponsor of terrorism and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite military unit that plays a key role in the oil industry, a supporter of Hezbollah and other militant groups active throughout the Middle East. ‘This seizure serves as a perfect example of why the U.S. should not lift sanctions,’ said Claire Jungman, the chief of staff at the New York-based group United Against Nuclear Iran, which closely tracks Iran’s crude shipments. ‘We should continue to work to ensure that the IRGC cannot use profits from its sale of Iranian oil to fund terrorism and other activities that threaten the safety and security of all Americans.’ Despite U.S. sanctions, Iran has seen a windfall of revenue as oil prices have risen over the past year. Key to the smuggling operation are dozens of privately owned, foreign-flagged tankers — dubbed a “ghost armada” by Jungman’s group — that deploy a variety of sophisticated techniques to hide their movements. Even U.S.-owned tankers, such as one belonging to a subsidiary of private equity giant Oaktree Capital Management, have been implicated in the brisk, black market trade. In a cat and mouse world, ship tracking technology has given a boost to efforts to detect sanctions-evading behavior by Iran as well as Venezuela, whose oil industry is also under U.S. export restrictions. But seizing oil shipments is rare: prior to this latest action it had been done only twice before. Proceeds from the sale of forfeited cargoes partly go to compensate American victims of terrorism.”
U.S. Advocacy Group Exposes Two More Tankers Transferring Iran’s Oil
An Iran International story on January 23 highlighted UANI’s work in exposing oil tankers that facilitate Iranian oil smuggling. “Advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) has released a satellite photo of two oil tankers during ship-to-ship transfer of Iranian crude, reiterating calls for sanctioning them. UANI Chief of Staff Claire Jungman said on Saturday that after clouds cleared in the South China Sea, they managed to spot the vessels that were transferring Iran’s crude oil east of Singapore. ‘TIFANI and VORAS, two vessels we've repeatedly called for sanctions on, are feeding vessels that are spoofing their automatic identification system (AIS) transponders,’ she said in a tweet with the image. TIFANI is currently sailing under the flag of Tanzania and VORAS is Guyana-flagged and owned by Malaysia International Shipping Corporation Berhad. The news came just a day after Reuters reported that a U.S. safety firm has cancelled environmental and safety classification of two tankers after UANI alerted the classification company that they had carried cargoes of Iranian oil. Without the certification -- the so-called class cover that includes vessel safety inspections -- vessels are unable to secure insurance cover or call at most international ports.”
How Biden Officials Broke Pledges to Enforce Iran Sanctions
A February 17 Washington Beacon story, quoting UANI research data, suggested that the performance of Biden Administration Iranian sanctions enforcement officials fell far short of the promises they made during their Senate confirmation hearings: “From 2020 to 2021, Iranian oil exports increased by 123 million barrels, or 40 percent, according to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which closely tracks Tehran's armada of illegal oil tankers. China was by far the top importer and continues to purchase illicit Iranian crude. In January, after both officials were confirmed, China announced for the first time in more than two years that it is violating U.S. sanctions by importing Iranian oil. ‘Up until now, the U.S. has been notably reluctant to enforce its own oil sanctions against China, but the administration has also had an excuse not to act because ‘officially’ Beijing was not importing,’ UANI officials wrote at the time. ‘In plainly declaring its willingness to violate the most critical aspect of the U.S. sanctions architecture, China is probing President Biden’s seriousness and testing American commitment to enforcing its own oil sanctions.”’
China Grossly Underreported Oil and Other Imports from Iran
A February 20 Iran International story documented the gross underreporting by China of sanctioned oil imports from Iran and featured UANI research data: “China has reported just $6.5 billion of imports from Iran in 2021, while other data show it imported more than $20 billion of Iranian crude and oil biproducts. Firms such as TankerTrackers that monitor shipments and vessel movements worldwide, and the advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran have reported that China imported a daily average of 850,000 barrels of oil and biproducts from Iran in 2021, much higher than in the previous year. Data released by China’s Customs Administration, however, shows there was no increase year-on-year in Iranian imports.”
U.S. sanctions hit Russian tankers once involved in Iran trades
A TradeWinds article on February 22 cited UANI research data related to two Russian oil tankers that once illegally transported Iranian oil and were now facing U.S. sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) said the Pegas loaded 3m barrels of Iranian oil throughout 2021 with 2.6m of them ending up in China. The group provided satellite images purporting to show the ship approaching the Sirri Island terminal in August after having turned off its automatic identification system transponder. UANI said Russian insurer Ingosstrakh dropped Pegas’ coverage after it notified the company of the ship’s trading. Shipping databases do not list a current insurer. The Linda, known in 2020 as the Lady M, was allegedly involved in a chain of ship-to-ship transfers that August, UANI said.”
Russian oil tanker hit by U.S. sanctions heading to Malaysia
A February 28 Reuters article detailing the movements of Linda, a Russian-flagged ship targeted by U.S. sanctions and suspected of carrying Iranian oil, quoted UANI research data on the ship’s activities. “U.S. advocacy group United Against a Nuclear Iran (UANI), which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic through ship and satellite tracking, said Linda was transporting Iranian oil transferred from another ship at sea on Jan. 30. The vessel had loaded crude oil from an Iranian port 10 days prior to conducting the transfer to Linda, UANI's chief of staff Claire Jungman told Reuters, citing satellite data. Reuters was unable to independently verify the information. The destination of the oil was not known but it could be transferred to another ship off Malaysian or Singapore waters, Jungman said. According to the United States, Linda is owned by PSB Leasing, a unit of Russian lender Promsvyazbank, which has also been hit by international sanctions.” Additional media coverage: Iran International.
Russia Involved in Plot to Help Iran Bust U.S. Oil Sanctions
A Washington Free Beacon story on March 3 describing the smuggling of Iranian crude oil on two sanctioned Russian tankers and the growing ties between both regimes cited UANI research data and included comments from UANI Chief of Staff Claire Jungman. “The two tankers, named the Pegas and Linda, were recently sanctioned as part of U.S. efforts to isolate Russian businesses over the Ukrainian invasion. It has now become apparent that the two ships have been ferrying illicit Iranian crude oil in recent months, a move experts see as a scheme to evade U.S. sanctions and signal an increase in Tehran-Moscow relations. Satellite imagery and detailed information on both vessels were provided to the Washington Free Beacon by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a watchdog group that closely tracks Tehran’s illicit oil trade. ‘Iran has continuously worked to evade sanctions on its oil exports. Given that Russia and Iran have openly expressed their desire to expand cooperation, it is not surprising that Iran has found a partner in Russia to help it do this,’ Claire Jungman, UANI’s chief of staff, told the Free Beacon. ‘Through the use of these now-sanctioned Russian tankers, Iran continues to generate billions in revenue to fund its malign activity. As Russia becomes more isolated, we might see these two countries working even closer together as they work to evade sanctions and generate revenue.’” Additional media coverage: The Daily Wire.
After arrest of sanctioned Baltic Leader, focus turns to other PSB Leasing ships
A March 1 TradeWinds article that discussed the whereabouts of a number of Russian-flagged ships sanctioned since the invasion of Ukraine quoted UANI research data concerning two; Linda and Pegas. “Both ships have been accused of participating in the illicit trade of Iranian oil by United Against Nuclear Iran, loading cargoes either at a terminal or in a ship-to-ship transfer. Of the remaining four that were not sanctioned directly, the 7,184-dwt ro-ro Stella Marina (built 2000) is moored near St Petersburg after arriving in Russian territorial waters on 23 February and the 12,731-dwt general cargoship Viktoria Shain (built 2006) has been at a Turkish shipyard since 2 February.”
Distressed Venezuelan oil cargo discharging in Asia -sources
A February 24 Reuters article that chronicled the mechanical problems of U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela-owned supertanker Maximo Gorki and its 2-million-barrel cargo of heavy crude oil, quoted UANI research data on the activities of the ship in Asian waters. “Claire Jungman, chief of staff at U.S. group United Against Nuclear Iran, which monitors Iran-related tanker traffic, said crude was transferred on February 19 from the Maximo Gorki onto the Dream Vision in a trans-shipment operation east of Singapore or in the Riau archipelago, citing tracking and satellite data. The Dream Vision's owner, listed in shipping databases as British Virgin Islands-based Leah Shipping Inc, could not be located for comment.”
U.S. Sanctions Relief Could Restore Iranian Oil Exports
A February 21 story in The Maritime Executive speculating on impacts to the world oil market should oil sanctions be lifted from the Islamic Republic of Iran included UANI research data referencing the number of ships now comprising Iran’s oil smuggling network. “When Iranian oil goes mainstream again, the return of legitimate tonnage will likely doom the small "rogue" fleet of sanctions-busting tankers, Poten said. Activist group United Against Nuclear Iran estimates that there are 169 vessels in this category, primarily smaller ships. ‘The lifting of sanctions would legitimize the Iranian exports and significantly reduce the employment opportunities for these vessels, most of which will likely disappear from the market,’ predicted Poten.”
As Iran nuclear deal grows closer, opponents question big tanker impact
A March 4 TradeWinds article that discussed possible impacts on the oil industry from a new nuclear agreement between the U.S. and Iran featured comments from both UANI Chief of Staff Claire Jungman and Research Director Daniel Roth. “But United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) suggested some of the ships trading carrying Iranian oil have ties back to Iran and would not be scrapped following an end to sanctions. ‘I don’t think these ships are just going to go away,’ said UANI chief of staff Claire Jungman. ‘Iran had to resort to using these foreign-flagged vessels because their fleet had been sanctioned.’ Iranian interests have allegedly used various fronts to acquire ships. In 2020, the U.S. sanctioned and sued two Iranians after purchasing the 150,812-dwt Gulf Sky (built 1998). The ship’s seller, Greece’s Polembros Shipping, told TradeWinds they were under the impression they were dealing with an Omani family and that Iran connections did not show up in their due diligence. The company was cleared of wrongdoing by U.S. authorities. UANI’s research director Dan Roth said the group has taken pledges from companies promising to stay out of Iran, even if sanctions are lifted and that they would call those companies out should they being trading with the country. Further, he said there were medium-term issues of the U.S. potentially withdrawing again. ‘There’s a lot of things for them to consider on a compliance and risk matrix, to be sure,’ Roth said.”
Barstad is right — but how does shipping sink the phantom fleet?
In a TradeWinds story on February 3, Lars Barstad, the chief executive of shipping company Frontline, acknowledged the existence of a phantom fleet of around 100 vessels operating globally in support of illegal Iranian oil smuggling and complained that no one is trying to stamp it out. Barstad went on to note that the existence of the phantom fleet, long documented by UANI, not only undermines those tanker owners who are playing by the rules but also risks an environmental disaster by using tonnage that probably should be scrapped. “On at least two occasions in late 2020 and early 2021, Maersk vessels nearly took on Iranian oil cargoes whose origins had been hid. The Danish company only found out about the scam when it was contacted by U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran, which tracks ships using satellites, but believes fraudulent trade is widespread. Barstad argues that Frontline has repeatedly raised this issue of the ghost fleet with relevant flag states and shipowner organisation Intertanko.”
Research and Analysis
One Obvious Move to Help Classification Firms Cut Loose Rogue Ship
In a February 2 blog, UANI Chief of Staff Claire Jungman and Research Director Daniel Roth propose that to enable the world’s leading maritime classification societies to strip rogue ships of their certifications and make oil smuggling more difficult, more sanctions should be levied by the U.S. and other jurisdictions to trigger declassifications, and suggest UANI’s directory of vessels operating as Iran’s ‘ghost armada’ should be the place to start: “As well as adding individual sanctions to vessels and their direct owners and managers, we have extensively advocated for the U.S. to broaden the range of sanctionable maritime services. This would permit the U.S. Treasury Department to punish other entities—importing agents, management firms, charterers, operators, marine insurers, vessels and all other “maritime services providers”—directly and willfully found to be helping Iran. Doing so now is more essential than ever. Iran is exporting its oil and natural gas to countries like China and Venezuela at an alarming rate. Finally and crucially, the U.S. should also encourage other countries to follow its lead and issue guidance for all companies involved in maritime trade, as the U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has done. Public authorities and private firms, which are evidently keen to support U.S. policy objectives, must work together if we are serious about staunching the illicit flow of Iranian oil.”
Is COSCO at it Again?
In a March 15 blog, UANI Chief of Staff Claire Jungman and Research Director Daniel Roth build a compelling case against a web of China Oil Shipping Company (“COSCO”) entities for their continued purchase of Iranian oil. In 2019, the U.S. State Department sanctioned five Chinese companies for purchasing Iranian oil, including two entities owned by COSCO. Following extensive negotiations, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control eventually removed one of the entities, COSCO Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Co., Ltd, from its list of Specially Designated Nationals (“SDN”) on January 31, 2020. “Regardless of whatever legal wranglings were waged to secure the COSCO firm’s removal from the SDN List, it appears that COSCO has not stopped its Iran activities. It has just found more creative ways to hide its involvement. On February 15, 2022, UANI identified two crude oil tankers engaged in a ship-to-ship (“STS”) transfer of Iranian crude oil in waters east of Singapore. UANI strongly suspects the vessels involved were LATIN VENTURE (formerly known as PACIFIC BRAVO) (IMO: 9206035) and FT ISLAND (formerly known as CCPC VANGUARD) (IMO: 9166675)… “The vessels have changed names and ownership, but it is not certain they have dropped their ties to COSCO. Indeed, an analysis of the vessels’ ownership and operator details indicates they are still connected. Since November 2019, FT ISLAND has been operated by Asia Affluence Ltd, a subsidiary of Xu D, doing business at Unit 2507, 25th Floor, COSCO Tower, Grand Millenium Plaza, 183, Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong, China. Asia Affluence Ltd shares an address, including floor and suite number, with ten other companies, one of which is United Amity Ltd, a subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Tanker Dalian. Could COSCO be using Asia Affluence Ltd as a front company for its Iran activities?”
February 2022 Iran Tanker Tracking: Deceptive Tactics
UANI Chief of Staff Claire Jungman and Research Director Daniel Roth report that on February 2, a circular was issued by the International Group of P&I Clubs (IGP&I) – whose members provide maritime liability cover for approximately 90% of the global ocean-going tonnage – citing a rise in illicit Iranian oil exports and describing new and old techniques of subterfuge. “UANI has been stressing these deceptive shipping practices to IGP&I members and the wider global shipping community for ten years. This month UANI identified a vessel with ultimate U.S. ownership engaging in multiple deceptive tactics in a bid to transport Iranian crude. Throughout January and February, UANI tracked the vessel SUEZ RAJAN (IMO: 9524475), a vessel owned by Fleetscape, a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management. SUEZ RAJAN was engaged in an STS transfer of Iranian oil with the crude oil tanker VIRGO (IMO 9236250). UANI provided Oaktree with information on the suspected STS transfer on February 15, 2022. The following day, the Associated Press reported on the STS. The AP confirmed, ‘Satellite images and maritime tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press correspond to the group [UANI]’s identification of the vessel allegedly involved and show them side-by-side off the coast of Singapore on Saturday.’ UANI will continue to highlight and publicize these deceptive practices, so the industry can work to enhance due diligence protocols.”
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