Tag: ban

Nuclear-related economic sanctions on Iran and restrictions on its trading partners imposed by the European Union and the United States continue to cause distress to Indian shipping companies.

Iranian sanctions, insurance ban, oil tankers

The Zanzibar government confirmed it had registered 11 oil tanker companies which were formerly registered in Malta and Cyprus and accused the media of misleading the public.Earlier this week some newspapers, including The Citizen, published reports that an Iranian oil tanker company had renamed at least 10 of its vessels and replaced their flags with Tanzanian ones, news that sent shockwaves through the country's leadership.A statement read by Zanzibar minister for Infrastructure and Communication Hamad Masoud Hamad yesterday to the House of Representatives said owners of the eleven companies were nationals of British Virgin Islands and Seychelles.He named the ships as Daisy with a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 81479 registered in Malta, Justice (GRT 164241) registered in Cyprus, Magnolia (GRT 81479) also formerly registered in Malta.Other ships are Courage (GRT 163660) owned by Courage Shipping Co. Ltd, Freedom (GRT 163660) also owned by Freedom shipping Co. Ltd, Valor (GRT 160930) owned by Valor Shipping Co. Ltd and Leadership (GRT 164241) owned by Leadership Shipping Co. Ltd. All these were formerly registered in Cyprus.Mr Hamad also named Companion (GRT 164241) owned by Companion Shipping Co. Ltd, Camellia (GRT 81479) owned by Camellia Shipping Co. Ltd, Clove (GRT 81479) owned by ...

EU oil sanctions kick in on Sunday A South Korean ship classification society faces pressure from a U.S. lobby group to stop verifying safety and environmental standards for Iran's biggest shipping companies as tightening U.S. and European sanctions restrict its oil exports.Without verification from such bodies, ships are unable to call at international ports.U.S. group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), in a letter sent this week to the Korean Register of Shipping (KR), urged the society to stop providing classification and certification services to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), its front companies and the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC)."KR's irresponsible decision to provide certification services at a time when responsible businesses are leaving Iran undermines the efforts of the international community to isolate the Iranian regime," Mark Wallace, UANI's chief executive and a former U.S. ambassador wrote in the letter dated June 25.A targeted campaign by UANI, which includes former U.S. ambassadors on its board and is funded by private donations, had led Germany's Germanischer Lloyd and France's Bureau Veritas to drop their classification cover for Iranian shipping firms."It is not simply a question of KR violating relevant sanctions provisions, but of following a responsible course of ...

South Korea became the first major Asian consumer to announce a halt to Iran South Korea became the first major Asian consumer of Iranian crude to announce a halt to imports after the government said they would be suspended from July 1 due to a European Union ban on insuring tankers carrying Iranian oil.The insurance ban makes it almost impossible to ship Iranian oil as most insurance is undertaken by EU-based companies and the move comes as part of a series of measures designed to put pressure on Iran to halt what the United States and others say is a nuclear weapons program.South Korea depends on the United States for security, but it has no natural resources and has been scrambling for alternative crude supplies to replace those from a country that supplied 9.4 percent of its needs in 2011.The world's fourth largest buyer of Iranian crude said it has no plan to provide state guarantee like Japan to continue its imports. Another two major Asian buyers, China and India, will allow Iran to deliver the crude from July."South Korea's imports of Iranian oil will be suspended, as the EU will suspend crude imports from Iran and also halt its ...

P&I clubs will be unable to insure vessels carrying Iranian crude from July 1 In less than two weeks, Iran's biggest oil buyers will lose access to the London-based insurance market that protects 95 percent of the world's tanker shipments against oil spills or catastrophic collisions.Barring an unexpected last-minute deal to relax European Union sanctions, Europe's Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs will be unable to insure vessels carrying Iranian crude from July 1, an unforeseen but ultimately critical side effect of EU sanctions to punish Iran for its nuclear program.In an extreme scenario, exports from OPEC's second-largest supplier -- already curtailed by separate U.S. sanctions and an EU import ban -- could grind to a halt next month as overseas oil companies cannot afford to take the risk of multibillion-dollar liabilities arising from an uninsured incident.Such an outcome seems unlikely. In Japan, which now buys about a fifth of Iran's exports, legislators are expected to approve unprecedented government guarantees to insure shipments later this month.But no other country has announced similar arrangements, and buyers in South Korea and India say they will have to stop loading any new cargoes from July without a solution.Despite the risks, however, oil markets appear ...

Vessels with satellite phones onboard must include the phone(s) particulars The Director General of India has recently issued DGS Order No.02 of 2012 which bans the use of Thuraya, Iridium, and other satellite phones in India and in Indian waters under section six (6) of Indian Wireless Act section 20 of Indian Telegraph Act.Satellite phones may still be used on a case by case basis but only after a No Objection Certificate is applied for and issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DOT)Vessels with satellite phones onboard must include the phone(s) particulars when submitting their Pre Arrival Notification on Security (PANS).Members should be aware that there are Thuraya handsets that have a dual-mode feature that allows them to operate as satellite phones and GSM terrestrial mobile phones; this may impact use of these phones in India as GSM phones until the No Objection Certificate has been issued.Source: The North of England P&I Club

More Chinese ships are at the disputed Scarborough Shoal area The Philippines says more Chinese ships are at the disputed Scarborough Shoal area, despite ongoing talks on the row.A statement from the Foreign Ministry said the vessels included five government ships as well as dozens of fishing and utility boats.The Philippines currently has two vessels there.The two countries, both of which claim the area, have been locked in a stand-off since April.On Monday there were five Chinese government vessels, 16 fishing boats and 56 "utility boats" in the area, the Philippine foreign ministry said.The number of utility boats - smaller vessels launched from bigger boats, the coast guard said - went up to 76 on Tuesday, it said.But the ministry said it was still "committed to efforts of defusing the tensions" with China, even as it "expressed grave concern" over the issue to the Chinese embassy in Manila.In Beijing, the foreign ministry dismissed the comments."It is understood that some 20 Chinese fishing boats are operating around Huangyan Island, similar to that of last year," said spokesman Hong Lei."The way they operate is in compliance with the relevant laws in China, as well as China's fishing moratorium order."Both sides imposed fishing ...

Foreign-flagged fishing vessels to be banned from New Zealand waters The Maritime Union and the Labour Party say Government plans to crack down on foreign fishing vessels do not go far enough.Foreign-flagged fishing vessels are to be banned from operating in New Zealand waters to address labour, safety and fisheries practice concerns, the Government announced today.Primary Industries Minister David Carter and Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson said the Government will require reflagging of all foreign-owned fishing vessels operating in New Zealand waters, and the rule change will be brought in over a four-year transition period."The Government's decision sends a clear message that New Zealand is serious about the fair treatment of fishing crews, the safety of vessels and its international reputation for ethical and sustainable fishing practices," the ministers said.However, the Maritime Union and the Labour Party say the best way to create good working conditions, is to make sure jobs on board the vessels go to Kiwis, and not foreigners.Labour's immigration spokesperson Darien Fenton said: "While these changes mean foreign vessels will need to be registered as New Zealand vessels - and abide by our much higher fisheries and labour standards - they will still be able to use entirely ...

Ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil Britain is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices, European diplomats said.A European Union ban on importing Iranian oil, which takes effect on July 1, will also prevent EU insurers and reinsurers from covering tankers carrying Iranian crude anywhere in the world from July.The impact of the measure is likely to be felt strongly in London's financial district, the centre for marine insurance.Iran exports most of its 2 million barrels of oil per day to Asia. The four main buyers - China, India, Japan and South Korea - have yet to find a way to replace the predominantly Western insurance shipping cover provided by London insurers.The sanctions seek to stem the flow of petrodollars to Tehran to force it to halt a nuclear programme that the West suspects is intended to produce weapons.Some Indian and Chinese firms have already asked state insurers to step in and provide coverage by offering government guarantees. The situation is more complicated for Japan and South Korea, ...