Iran sanctions pressure group details trading patterns of sanctioned vessels

Three of the 20 ships added to the US blacklist this week called on a key Iranian port more than two years ago, according to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The New York-based pressure group said it detected the 75,386-cbm Dolphin (built 1994) and the 45,000-dwt Forever Rich (built 2015) calling on Assaluyeh in late 2020, while the 45,000-dwt Yong Xin (built 2000) visited an FPSO there earlier in the year. The Dolphin allegedly called on Assaluyeh, where there are gas and petrochemical export facilities, in November 2020. The Forever Rich was docked there in September. The Yong Xin allegedly loaded oil at an Iranian floating storage, production and offloading unit (FPSO) in February. Pro-sanctions UANI routinely uses satellite imagery and automatic identification system data to track ships that call on Iran to transport sanctioned cargoes. The group also sends letters to the ships’ flag states, insurers and classification societies to attempt to have them drop coverage.