Empire Navigation pleads guilty to sanctions violations in Suez Rajan case

…Investigations into the Marshall Islands-flagged Suez Rajan began last February after US monitoring group United Against Nuclear Iran alleged it had conducted a ship-to-ship transfer with the Panama-flagged very large crude carrier Virgo (IMO: 9236250), who UANI said had previously loaded Iranian crude from Kharg Island. The factual statement – which is part of the plea agreement and cites UANI’s research - conrms these allegations. UANI’s chief executive Mark Wallace said Empire Navigation should be commended for its cooperation with US authorities. “It's a message to every Iranian smuggler that there is an off ramp from the mob. Other shippers that are engaging in this activity, should see this off ramp, take it, and work with us and US authorities to end their smuggling with Iran,” he told Lloyd’s List.