Shipping

"The Thai-listed Regional Container Lines' (RCL) first oceangoing ship docked at Shahid Rajaei port to unload its cargo. 'The ship named Diaporos entered Iran's biggest port and its unloading and reloading took less than 22 hours,' said Director General of Hormozgan Province's Ports and Maritime Organization Ebrahim Aidani on Sunday..." (Fars News Agency, “Thai RCL's First Oceangoing Ship Berths in Iran,” 5/1/2016)

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Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian Haft Darya.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

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Regional Container Lines (RCL) Persian Gulf Service from Bandar Abbas to Jebel Ali and Khor Fakkan was displayed on its website and updated as recently as March 27, 2013. In correspondence to UANI on July 9, 2013, however, RCL confirmed that it had no business with Tidewater. All references to RCL's Iranian operations have now been removed.

"Singapore shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) has ceased acceptance of cargoes in and out of Iran.

What is more, the shipping company has terminated all calls to Iran." (Offshore Energy, "PIL Terminates Vessel Calls to Iran due to US Sanctions," 10/15/18)

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"The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) has penned a Memorandum of Understanding with Singapore-based counterpart Pacific International Lines (PIL), Iran’s Mehr News Agency reports. Under the MoU, the two countries laid the groundwork for collaboration in the field of maritime transport, including through establishment of feeder lines in South East Asia, Southern Asia, the Middle East, the Black Sea and other regions, along with cooperation in ship construction and technology transfer." (March 4, 2016).

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Operates as a liner in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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"Taiwanese lines Evergreen and Yang Ming Marine said they had pulled out, while Singapore's Pacific International Lines has also cut ties along with two top South Korean shipping firms." (Reuters, "Chinese Firms Drop Iran as Latest U.S. Sanctions Bite," 7/1/2013)

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Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian company Delta.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

In 2015, CalSTRS designated Orient Overseas International as “Under Review” for potentially having ties to Iran. In 2016, CalSTRS designated Orient Overseas International as “Being Monitored” while CalSTRS conducted further review of the company’s compliance and control policies and procedures. In 2017, CalSTRS maintained the “Being Monitored” designation. In 2018, CalSTRS removed the company as it no longer holds any of the company’s securities.

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"So despite concerns over regulation and reputation, that opportunity explains the caravan of container carriers that started resuming service to Iran back in January. The Iranian port at Bandar Abbas now welcomes ships from Evergreen, Hyundai, OOCL, Hanjin, “K” Line, KMTC, X-Press, Yang Ming, and many more..." (Global Trade, "Transportation/Logistics:Iran is Back Open for Business," 11/1/2016).

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"A spokesman with Hong Kong-headquartered Orient Overseas Container Line said its feeder service to Iran from the UAE would cease from June after ending direct business from Asia two years ago. A source at Hong Kong's Wah Hai Lines said it would no longer send its vessels to Iran." (Reuters, "Iran faces fresh trade heat as more shipping firms exit," 5/7/2013) 

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Operates as a container service in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP)

"So despite concerns over regulation and reputation, that opportunity explains the caravan of container carriers that started resuming service to Iran back in January. The Iranian port at Bandar Abbas now welcomes ships from Evergreen, Hyundai, OOCL, Hanjin, “K” Line, KMTC, X-Press, Yang Ming, and many more..." (Global Trade, "Transportation/Logistics:Iran is Back Open for Business," 11/1/2016).

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K-Line has multiple European and American subsidiaries, including K-Line America and K-Line Europe. (K-Line: About Us)

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Operates as a liner in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP)

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Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian Jet Marin Servis.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

Lists Bar Avaran Iran Shipping Agency & Int'l forwarding co as its corresponding agent in Iran. 

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“Ignazio Messina Lines is reportedly interested in exploring new ties with Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.”  (Maritime Executive, “   Italian Maritime Companies Forge New Iran Connections, 1/27/2016). 

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 Ignazio Messina’s website reports that vessels Jolly Cobalto, Jolly Titanio, Jolly Vanadio, and Jolly Palladio are scheduled to dock in Iran’s Bandar Abbas port in 2016.  (Ignazio Messina Website, “Ports”).

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“The legal representative of the Genovese shipping company Ignazio Messina & Co. Spa was acquitted of the accusation that it violated the 2009 legislative decree that implemented the international community’s embargo against Iran.  The Genovese shipping company’s ship ‘Jolly Oro’ was intercepted by the Customs Agency with 80 drums of triethanolamine, a chemical substance that was loaded in Iran and was headed for Lebanon.  The substance, which was seized and thereby the cause of criminal proceedings, is defined as a ‘dual use’ substance: it is able to be utilized both for peaceful use for the cosmetics industry, but also as a precursor for chemical weapons.” (Il Giornale, “Jolly Oro and Embargo against Iran, Paolo Messina Acquitted,” 6/11/13 -- Translated)

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Operates as a liner in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP)

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“While NITC continues to be the market leader in terms of the number of ships deployed for loading crude from Iran, other companies with ships loading from the country include Dynacom, Delta Tankers, Euronav, Polembros, COSCO, Avin International, Olympic Shipping and Management, New Shipping and Thenamaris, it said.” (Platts, "Tankers: Sharp Rise in Iran's Crude Oil Shipments to Europe," March 2017).

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"China's COSCO Container Lines is studying the possibility of resuming operation at Iranian ports. Wu Jinping, Director General of the Chinese International Shipping Line 'COSCO', paid a visit toIran's Shaid Rajaee port, which is the largest container port in the country, Iran's IRNA news agency reported on April 28. Wu Jinping promised to talk with senior officials of the company about resuming operation at the Iranian port. China's COSCO Container Lines, the world's 5th largest international shipping company, ended its ties with Iranin June 2013. ‘All of COSCO's business to and from Iran was suspended,’ said a Shanghai-based company official, citing a company statement saying lines to Iran stopped in early June and those leaving Iran ended in early July. The loading and unloading capacity of Iran's Shahid Rajaee port currently stands at 88 million tons.” (Trend, “China’s COSCO may return to Iran,” 4/28/14)

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"China's COSCO Container Lines, the world's number 5 player, was another firm to end ties. 'All of COSCO's business to and from Iran has been suspended,' said a Shanghai-based company official, citing a company statement saying lines to Iran stopped in early June and those leaving Iran would end in early July." (Reuters, "Chinese firms drop Iran as latest U.S. sanctions bite," 07/01/2013)

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"China's government can follow Japan's example and provide insurance guarantees for Chinese tankers carrying Iranian oil amid Western sanctions on Iran, top shipping conglomerate COSCO Group said on Tuesday . . . 'We need to wait until the insurance issue is solved. We are pushing for a solution right now. Without insurance cover, we wouldn't dare to ship oil from Iran,' Wei Jiafu, state-owned COSCO Group's chairman, told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference.'Japan has set a precedent, we can just follow their lead.' Wei's comments, the first from a prominent Chinese firm about Iran oil shipments, suggest China's government may be considering state guarantees for its ships to enable the world's second-biggest oil consumer to keep importing Iranian crude." (Reuters, "Govt insurance a way for China to ship Iran oil-COSCO," 7/17/12)

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Operates as a liner in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

 Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian Arya Padideh Hasti.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

"China is among Tehran's main allies, but its shipping firms are also bailing out. China Shipping Container Lines Co (CSCL), among the world's top 10 lines, has become the latest group to exit Iran, a CSCL official confirmed. In a June 27 letter seen by Reuters to U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), whose board includes former CIA and British intelligence chiefs, Shanghai-headquartered CSCL said it took 'trade sanctions compliance with the utmost seriousness,' ceasing all Iran business from July 1." (Reuters, "Chinese firms drop Iran as latest U.S. sanctions bite," 7/1/2013)

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Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

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On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP)

"A Russian firm has decided to stop verifying safety and environmental standards for one of Iran's biggest shipping groups, a letter showed, the latest international company wary of being caught up in Western sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iran is under growing pressure over its disputed nuclear program and companies are cutting ties with its vital shipping sector, which transports most of its crude oil, for fear of losing lucrative U.S. business. Moscow opposes concerted trade pressure on Tehran by Washington and its allies, making the Russian company's decision unusual. A letter seen by Reuters showed St. Petersburg-based Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), among the top 13 global ship classification societies, had decided to suspend its activities in Iran after being urged to pull out by U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). A targeted campaign by UANI, which includes former U.S. ambassadors on its board and is funded by private donations, has already led to other classification societies exiting Iran. Without certification from classification societies, vessels are unable to secure insurance cover or call at most international ports. 'The decision has been taken to suspend RS activities in Iran,' its chief executive Mikhail Ayvazov wrote in a letter to UANI dated August 31" (Reuters, "Exclusive: Russian firm to halt Iran ship work as pressure grows," 9/5/12)

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The Islamic Republic of Iran has delegated the authority to survey vessels, to confirm compliance with international conventions and to issue corresponding certificates to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), RS advertising department reports.  (Information Agency, PortNews. “Iran authorizes Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping for vessel survey,” 6/23/2009)

“As previously advised, it is the policy of ClassNK to comply with applicable laws and regulations where it operates. In this connection, we are currently conducting our investigation and liaising with competent authorities of the flag state to determine whether and to what extent the matter raised in your letters affect our compliance policy and procedures. We intend to take appropriate measures based on our findings of facts and circumstances as well as the instructions from the competent authorities of the flag states in order to maintain and ensure our compliance with applicable laws and regulations." (December 8, 2020)

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In June 2016, Class NK announced that it had “resumed operations in Iran with the reopening of its Tehran Office and agreements with the Iranian Classification Society (ICS) and Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), Ministry of Roads & Urban Development of Iran.”  (ClassNK Website, “ClassNK returns to Iran,” 6/15/2016). 

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ClassNK explained that “[a]s part of its plan to further strengthen operations in the region, the Society also signed an agreement with ICS in February 2016 which sets out a framework for surveys and certifications for NK/ICS dual-classed ships.”  (Id.).  Furthermore: A separate agreement with PMO, the Iranian maritime administration, is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. That agreement will enable ClassNK to perform statutory surveys and certifications on Iranian-flagged vessels in cooperation with Port & Flag State Control officers.(Id.). 

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ClassNK also lists a Tehran office as part of its network.  (ClassNK Website, “Service Network”).

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"A Japanese ship classification society will close its Tehran office, becoming the latest firm to face pressure by a U.S. lobby group to end dealings with Iran as backers of Western sanctions pile pressure on the Islamic Republic. Japan's ClassNK said it did not verify safety and environmental standards for Iranian ships, but was nevertheless pulling out of Iran.'We at ClassNK have already voluntarily refrained from activities in Iran, and we have no vessels with Iranian flags, so we do not think that our current activities are running foul of the Iran sanctions,' a senior ClassNK official told Reuters on Tuesday.'But considering the environment that surrounds us as of late, there were talks on this inside the organisation, and we have officially decided to close our Tehran office.' The move follows a call last week by U.S. group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) to cut ties with Iran . . . While UANI acknowledged ClassNK did not provide formal certification services to Iranian vessels, it said the Japanese firm maintained an office in Tehran, which 'lends important symbolic support to the regime.' UANI added that ClassNK also provided technical certificates for two Iranian firms that did business with Iranian shipping companies. The two Iranian firms provide distressed radio beacons, which transmit internationally recognised emergency codes and location data.'By providing services to these companies, ClassNK is directly facilitating the operations of Iran's shipping sector, an action that enables the Iranian government to circumvent multilateral sanctions that have been imposed to prevent it from further developing its illegal nuclear weapons program,' UANI said. The ClassNK official did not refer to the two Iranian firms but said it would close its office as soon as possible." (Reuters, "Japanese ship certifier to end Iran ties," 7/17/12)

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"Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, the world's largest ship classification society, has no plans to shut down its operations in Iran in response to the risks associated with tensions between the West and the Islamic Republic, the executive vice president of the society, also known as ClassNK, said Tuesday. Many ship classification societies, banks, insurers and shipowners have been forced to cut ties with Iran because of tightening Western sanctions. Japan-based ClassNK doesn't service any Iranian ships, so the sanctions haven't impacted the society's operations, Yasushi Nakamura told Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of an event announcing a partnership with NAPA, a leading software house for ship design and operations, to provide a solution for the global Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan, for which regulation will come into force on Jan 1, 2013.'We have full intention to maintain our Iranian office to service other clients worldwide,' Nakamura said. 'If there's a breakthrough in talks between Iran and the West, and the situation gets resolved, we could expand coverage to include Iranian carriers too.'" (Wall Street Journal, "ClassNK To Maintain Iran Operations Despite Western Sanctions -Executive," 5/8/12)

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“Japanese ship classification society NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK) is pleased to announce the establishment of two new offices in Africa and the Middle East this month. The first is a new office in Accra, Ghana, which will officially open on 25 December 2009, while the other is in Tehran, Iran, which will open on 31 December.” (MaritimeDirectory.com, “Shipping – Two New Class NK offices in Ghana and Iran,” 12/18/2009)

"Korean Register (KR) and Iranian Classification Society have signed a memorandum of understand to set up a joint venture firm in Tehran to offer plant facility certification and engineering services." (Seatrade Maritime News, "Korean Register forms joint venture with Iranian Classification Society," 5/24/2016).

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"The last big company doing classification work on Iranian ships, key to securing insurance and ports access, said on Friday it is stopping the work, spelling further difficulty for Iran's shipping, including its oil exports. The Korean Register of Shipping (KR) is the last of the world's top 13 classification societies to halt marine work in Iran following a recent exodus, including Britain's Lloyd's Register, triggered by Western sanctions on Tehran. 'In early August, the Korean Register of Shipping took the decision to stop providing classification services to Iranian ships. All relevant authorities and parties concerned were informed at that time,' KR said in a statement on Friday... In July, KR had sidestepped calls by U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran to halt its verification work saying it was concerned that vessel safety and marine environment protection could be compromised... IACS members such as Germany's Germanischer Lloyd and France's Bureau Veritas pulled out of Iran after being urged to exit by United Against Nuclear Iran, which includes former U.S. ambassadors on its board and is funded by private donations. The pressure group backs tougher sanctions on Iran. 'We applaud KR for this responsible and significant decision,' a spokesman for the group said on Friday. 'KR has joined other shipping services and countries in forcing Iran's business partners to now assume most all of the shipping risks for their business with the regime." (Reuters, "Iran faces new blow as South Korea firm ends ship work," 9/28/12)

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"Under pressure from lobbying groups campaigning against Iran's nuclear program, some specialized companies that supply the safety certificates required for ships to dock at foreign ports are terminating their dealings with Iran... Iranian tankers in need of safety certificates aren't out of options, as Asian classification societies have stepped into the breach. A spokesman for the Korean Register of Shipping said it provides classification services to a small number of Iranian ships as part of its ongoing contractual responsibilities. The Korean Register is in charge of surveying seven tankers, according to its website." (Wall Street Journal, "Iran's Oil Ships Sail Into Troubled Waters," 6/24/12)

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“KR visited Iran in early August with the aim of obtaining statutory survey status from the Iranian administration; to sign a cooperation agreement with the Iranian Classification society (ICS); and to contract a trilateral agreement between KR, ICS and the Iranian Ports & Maritime Organization (PMO).” (KRS Website, Press Release. “KR Visits Iran For Mutual Cooperation,” September 2009)