Stockholm Chartering AB

Stockholm Chartering is a Swedish ship brokering company that provides services in a wide range of shipping-related areas including chartering, operaitonal support, newbuilding contracting, and shipowning (Company Website).

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"Sweden’s Stockholm Chartering AB controls a ship that appears to exclusively run routes across Iran’s southern border in the Persian Gulf. Such deliveries would constitute a violation of U.S. and European sanction on Iran, according to the data provided by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a watchdog group that pressures American and European companies to cut economic ties with Tehran. The ship, named Persia, was spotted over the past two months docking near several Iranian ports that are known as hubs for petrochemical exports and its military, according to UANI. The watchdog has petitioned the company to halt its deliveries and has alerted the European Union to its potentially illegal dealings. The 'Stoc Holding-controlled vessel ‘Persia’ appears to operate a dedicated route in support of Iran’s petrochemical exports and advertises ties to sanctioned Iranian entities on its website,' UANI CEO and former United Nations Ambassador Mark Wallace wrote to the company on Wednesday. 'Stoc Holding’s business activities undermine U.S., E.U., and U.N. sanctions as well as the efforts of responsible non-governmental actors to isolate the Iranian regime and counter Iran’s smuggling and proliferation activities,' Wallace wrote. 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.' The Persia’s activities are particularly concerning to experts because it was seen traveling from Iran’s primary refineries to multiple locations that are near Iranian navy bases . . . 'There’s enough circumstantial evidence to warrant us asking the questions' about possible deliveries to these military bases, said House, who helms UANI’s Maritime Intelligence Network and Rogue Vessel Analysis (MINERVA) system . . . Stoc Holding’s Persia ship is also insured by Iran’s in-house insurance company, raising further red flags among UANI’s analysts. Iran’s Kish P&I is an illicit maritime insurance operation that allows mostly Iranian ships to continue global shipping operations and skirt economic sanctions. The Persia is 'one of the few' non-Iranian ships to be covered by Kish P&I, according to UANI’s Martin . . . '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.' Stockholm Chartering does not appear to be hiding its relationship with Iran. The company features photographs of Iranian tankers on the homepage of its website. Stockholm Chartering did not deny the charges against it when contacted Thursday by the Free Beacon." (Washington Free Beacon, "Watchdog Says Swedish Shipping Company Skirting Iran Sanctions," 7/18/13)