US sanctions 35 vessels, entities for transporting Iranian oil
    Khabar Agency

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned 35 entities and vessels that have shipped oil from Iran to foreign markets despite sanctions levied by the United States.

The department described a complex shell game organized by Iran and its supporters to get the regime's oil to various markets by constantly changing the names of vessels and changing the country flags. The Treasury said the that scheme helped Iran and its enablers avoid responsibility for breaking sanctions.

In what the Treasury Department calls Iran's "shadow fleet and facilitators," it described how tankers take on several names and flags to avoid detection.

"Iran continues to funnel revenues from its petroleum trade toward the development of its nuclear program, the proliferation of its ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology, and sponsorship of its regional terrorist proxies, risking further destabilizing the region," Bradley Smith, the Treasury's acting under-secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement.

"The United States remains committed to disrupting the shadow fleet of vessels and operators that facilitates these illicit activities, using the full range of our tools and authorities."

Along with changing the names of vessels and reflagging them, the Treasury said Iran also constantly provides falsified documentation and manipulates tracking systems to keep its scheme going. The department said that the 35 sanctioned are part of a "sprawling network" needed to keep Iran's oil flowing to its overseas customers.

The 21 vessels and 14 entities designated today include:


Vessels:

   JAYA (IMO: 9410387) – Marshall Islands-flagged
   PHONIX (IMO: 9198317) – Guyana-flagged
   BERTHA (IMO: 9292163) – Cook Islands-flagged
   OLIVE (IMO: 9288265) – Cook Islands-flagged
   YURI (IMO: 9235737) – Cook Islands-flagged
   MIN HANG (IMO: 9257137) – Cook Islands-flagged
   ELVA (IMO: 9196644) – Sao Tome and Principe-flagged
   CERES I (IMO: 9229439) – Sao Tome and Principe-flagged
   VANITY (IMO: 9371608) – San Marino-flagged
   LADY LUCY (IMO: 9341512) – Liberia-flagged
   VESNA (IMO: 9233349) – Belize-flagged
   FT ISLAND (IMO: 9166675) – Honduras-flagged
   MASAL (IMO: 9169421) – Iran-flagged
   BLACK PANTHER (IMO: 9285756) – Panama-flagged
   LIONESS (IMO: 9285744) – Panama-flagged
   VERONICA III (IMO: 9326055) – Panama-flagged
   FIONA II (IMO: 9262766) – Panama-flagged
   MEROPE (IMO: 9281891) – Panama-flagged
   RIO NAPO (IMO: 9256913) – Cook Islands-flagged
   LARA II (IMO: 9321421) – Panama-flagged
   TONIL (IMO: 9307932) – Panama-flagged

Entities:

   Galileos Marine Services L.L.C 
   Ocean Glory Giant OGG SA – Panama-based
   Vision Ship Management LLP – India-based
   Gaffodil Co., Limited – Hong Kong-based
   Lufindo Holding Limited – Seychelles-registered
   Inaya Ship Management Private Limited – Pakistan-based
   Constellation Maritime Services Limited – Liberia-registered
   Shanghai Legendary Ship Management Company Limited – PRC-based
   Shanghai Future Ship Management Co Ltd – PRC-based
   Eunomia Limited – Cayman Islands-registered, PRC-based
   Yurimaguas Ltd – Marshall Islands-registered
   Tightship Shipping Management (OPC) Private Limited – India-based
   Lightship Management Ltd – Ukraine-based
   Ceres Shipping Limited – Hong Kong-based
 

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