U.S. Alerts Maritime Industry to Deceptive IRISL Practices

IRISL's fleet includes a number of container vessels.

The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an advisory Thursday to alert the maritime industry of "deceptive practices" being used by state run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its affiliates in an effort to evade sanctions currently levelled at the country.

OFAC said IRISL has recently been operating vessels despite their flags having been revoked and as a result of their recent actions, an increasing number of countries have revoked or refused to issue a flag to IRISL vessels or those of their affiliates.

According to the statement, on June 25, 2012 Sierra Leone was the latest country to take such action, revoking its flag for the Irano-Hind vessel AMIN.

The advisory said, "As more jurisdictions refuse to flag IRISL vessels, it is increasingly likely that persons will encounter IRISL vessels that are not properly flagged.

"Therefore, maritime authorities should be alert to the presentation by IRISL of potentially fabricated vessel registration and flag credentials at ports of call and canal entrances.

"We urge state port control and canal authorities to thoroughly scrutinize the certificates of registry of IRISL vessels, to ensure that such documentation is not expired or fraudulent and, if they are found lacking, to take action appropriate and consistent with domestic and international law."

The statement also reminded the maritime industry it should be aware that assisting IRISL or its blocked affiliates to re-flag their vessels may be a violation of sanctions and therefore result in them being subject to sanctions themselves.