Iranian state television published a photo of the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker MT Riah surrounded by Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels. Photograph: AP

Panama deregisters oil tanker strayed into Iranian waters

Aminy Andawi
Business Tips in Indonesia
Tax & Customs
Jul 22, 2019
3509
The process of withdrawing the registration of the oil tanker MT Riah has started by Panama’s maritime authority, which ended up in Iranian waters after disappeared from ship tracking maps on 14 July. The withdrawal process began after an investigation towards violated international regulations by the tanker.

Panama is known as the largest shipping fleet in the world and It has withdrawn flags from more than dozens of vessels which some of it were operated by Iran. However, it is still not clear Riah belongs to which country. Recently, London suspected violating EU sanctions on Syria of an Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1.

Grace 1 was removed from Panama’s registry on 29 May and was branded as piracy by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Another two British-linked ships were seized on Friday in Hormuz as Iranian forces to take control of the British-flagged Stena Impero and directed it back to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, which has led to a sudden diversion from the planned course turning off its tracking signal.

Panama’s maritime authority stated that it would withdraw its flag from all vessels that violate the international legislation earlier this month. Furthermore, 60 ships linked to Iran and Syria will be removed from the Panamanian registry as soon as possible.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jul/21/panama-deregisters-tanker-that-strayed-into-iranian-waters

Business , International