NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Thursday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on Sweden’s Stoc Holding AB to explain and cease its business to and from Iran.
Stoc Holding controls a vessel, called the "Persia," that appears to operate a dedicated route in support of Iran's petrochemical industry. Stoc Holding openly advertises its ties to sanctioned Iranian entities on the front page of its website.
In 2012, the EU prohibited EU entities "to transport crude oil or petroleum products if they originate in Iran, or are being exported from Iran to any other country."
UANI recently launched its Maritime Intelligence Network and Rogue Vessel Analysis (MINERVA) system, to provide real-time tracking and course prediction for Iranian and Iran-related vessels. As reported in The New York Times, MINERVA’s unique capabilities allow UANI to monitor such vessels, and take relevant action to halt illegal Iran-sponsored shipping schemes.
In a letter to Stoc Holding CEO Bo Andersson, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote:
… Stoc Holding appears to be involved in a regular and dedicated tanker route in support of Iran's sanctioned petrochemical industry. Specifically, UANI has been monitoring the activities of the "Persia", a tanker operated and managed by Stoc Holding subsidiary Stoc Tankers AB, and owned by Stoc Tankers AB subsidiary Lanautique Shipping Co Ltd. The "Persia" appears to be one of the most active non-Iranian vessels frequenting Iran’s petrochemical facilitates at Bandar Imam Khomenei, Lavan Island and the port of Chah Bahar, Iran. The "Persia", also appears to operate a regular and dedicated route between these Iranian facilities.
In addition, UANI is highly concerned that petrochemical deliveries made by the "Persia" to Chah Bahar may risk providing support for Islamic Republic of Iran Navy ("IRIN") forces operating out of the nearby port of Konarak and Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force ("IRIAF") forces operating out of the nearby Chah Bahar/Konarak Aerodrome. Moreover, UANI is concerned that P&I coverage for the "Persia" is provided by Kish P&I, the Iranian regime's fraudulent P&I club that operates as part of a larger scheme to fraudulently classify and insure vessels working for Iran. Simply put, Stoc Holding appears to be profiting from its involvement in the Iranian regime's schemes to prop up its sanctioned petrochemical and shipping sectors. Such involvement is also exposing Stoc Holding to the risk that its services are providing support for Iran's military forces.
Sweden-based Stoc Holding should also be aware of EU sanctions leveled against entities facilitating Iran's access to the international shipping industry and transport of Iranian petrochemical products. For instance, in 2012 the EU prohibited EU entities "to transport crude oil or petroleum products if they originate in Iran, or are being exported from Iran to any other country." In light of the "Persia's" ongoing activities, UANI will be calling on its allies in the EU to investigate Stoc Holding's apparent violation of EU sanctions. …
UANI has long highlighted the shipping industry as an area where the international community can further pressure Iran. In a 2012 Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, six UANI board members wrote that "the world must deny Iran's access to international shipping, a move that would severely affect the regime given its dependence on global trade and seaborne crude oil exports."
Last year, all thirteen of the world’s major classification societies stopped certifying Iranian vessels following UANI’s campaign, including Bureau Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, Korean Register of Shipping, China Classification Society, and ClassNK. UANI has also announced that Barbados, Hong Kong, Moldova and Mongolia have stopped their reflagging of Iranian vessels.
UANI has requested a reply from Stoc Holding by July 27, 2013.
Click here
to read UANI’s full letter to Stoc Holding.
Click here
to learn more about MINERVA, and view examples of illicit Iranian
shipping schemes.
Click here
to read The New York Times article, "Group Keeps
Long-Distance Watch on Iran and Possible Sanction Violations."
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here
to learn more about UANI’s Shipping Campaign.