UANI Calls on Germanischer Lloyd to Comply with Sanctions, Stop Certifying IRISL Vessels and Iranian Oil Tankers

June 14, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2012

Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com

Phone: (212) 554-3296

 

UANI Calls on Germanischer Lloyd to Comply with Sanctions, Stop Certifying IRISL Vessels and Iranian Oil Tankers

 

New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) on Thursday called on the German shipping service Germanischer Lloyd (GL) to stop certifying Iranian shipping vessels, specifically those of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC).

 

GL's Iran business violates EU sanctions that ban both transactions with IRISL and the provision of ancillary services, including certification services that facilitate Iran's global oil trade. According to data gathered by UANI, GL currently provides certification to several IRISL vessels, as well as to at least eight vessels of the regime's primary oil shipper, NITC.

 

In a June 12 letter to GL Chairman of the Executive Board Erik van der Noordaa, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, explained how GL's activities are in clear violation of EU sanctions imposed against IRISL and Iran's oil trade, and also could run afoul of U.S. law, given GL's extensive contract work with the U.S. government:

 

... GL helps Iran circumvent multilateral sanctions that have been imposed to prevent Iran from further developing its illegal nuclear weapons program. GL's business also violates European Union sanctions that ban transactions with IRISL and the provision of ancillary services, including certification services, that facilitate Iran's global oil trade. As part of its Shipping Certification Campaign, UANI is calling on GL to immediately end its irresponsible and illegal Iran business activities.

 

****

GL's Iran business activities with IRISL also violate EU sanctions imposed in response to IRISL's direct support of Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs. According to data gathered by UANI, GL is currently providing services to several IRISL vessels.Moreover, GL undermines the efficacy of the EU embargo on Iranian crude oil by providing certification services to the regime's primary oil shipper, the NITC. According to data gathered by UANI, GL is currently providing services to at least eight NITC vessels. These services provided to NITC vessels and other Iranian crude oil tankers represent "ancillary contracts" necessary for the execution of Iran's global oil trade. Such contracts will represent a violation of EU law when the EU embargo on Iranian crude oil goes into effect on July 1, 2012.

***

 

GL's continued work with Iran also imperils its extensive business in the United States and with the U.S. Government. According to USASPENDING.gov, GL has received over $200,000 in contracts with the U.S. Government since 2000. Other GL business segments, such as GL Noble Denton (oil and gas) as well as GL Garrad Hassan (renewables), have also been awarded U.S. government contracts. GL should also be aware of legislation that could directly impact its reputation and ability to work with the U.S. government. UANI is working to pass the proposed "Ethical Shipping Inspections Act" which was introduced by Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Senator Susan Collins (R-MN) and Senator Mark Begich (D-AK). This legislation "would prohibit the U.S. from delegating representative authority to classification societies that simultaneously conduct inspection, certification, and related services for Iran, North Korea, North Sudan, or Syria." Specifically, this would imperil GL's prized and lucrative relationship of provisioning maritime services to the U.S. Coast Guard.

 

UANI has highlighted the shipping industry as an area where the international community can further pressure Iran. On June 6, the French shipping service Bureau Veritas ended its certifying of Iranian vessels in response to UANI, a development covered by Reuters.

 

In a March 17 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."

 

UANI has requested a response from GL by June 18, 2012.

 

Click here to read UANI's full letter to GL.

Click here to send a message to GL.

Click here to read UANI's Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, "Total Sanctions Might Stop Iran."

  ###