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MID-SHIP in ‘apparent’ sanctions violation over IRISL dealings

Pays $871,837 fine to OFAC over Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators Sanctions Regulations violations.
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7 years ago

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Thursday (2 May) announced a $871,837 settlement with Port Washington-based dry cargo transportation firm MID-SHIP Group LLC (MID-SHIP) over five apparent violations of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators Sanctions Regulations (WMDPSR). 

The shipping firm processed five electronic funds transfers, totalling approximately $472,861 between 18 February 2011 and 14 November 2011, that pertained to payments associated with blocked vessels identified on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons in violation to the WMDPSR. 

The apparent violations constitute an “egregious case”, said OFAC summarising the case below:

In February and April 2010, MID-SHIP’s subsidiaries located in China and Turkey negotiated three charter party agreements between multiple third parties regarding the transportation of goods from foreign ports to other foreign ports.

These parties ultimately nominated two separate IRISL vessels — the M/V Haadi and the M/V Adrian — as the performing vessels for the respective charter party agreements.

MID-SHIP was in possession of multiple documents identifying the vessels by their respective IMO numbers and connecting the vessels to Iran, and both vessels were publicly identified by name and IMO number on the SDN List by the time MID-SHIP processed the electronic funds transfers constituting the apparent violations.

MID-SHIP’s culture of compliance appears to have been deficient at the time of the apparent violations.

For example, in one instance, a MID-SHIP senior manager discussed receiving an electronic funds transfer in a non-U.S. Dollar currency from a third party after learning a financial institution was holding the payment due to the inclusion of a vessel name included in the remittance field.

MID-SHIP managerial personnel were also aware that financial institutions had rejected at least two payments for “administrative reasons,” “security reasons,” or “compliance issues.” The settlement amount reflects OFAC’s consideration of the following facts and circumstances, pursuant to the General Factors under OFAC’s Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines, 31 C.F.R. part 501, app. A.

The full report on MID-SHIP Group’s settlement agreement with OFAC is available for view here.

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / rfseevetal
Published: 3 May, 2019
 

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Winding up

Singapore: Liquidator of Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd issues notice of dividend

Third interim dividend to admitted unsecured claims of Nan Shan Maritime is payable from 15 July, according to Government Gazette notice.
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5 days ago

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July 16, 2026

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RESIZED Drew Beamer

A notice of dividend for Nan Shan Maritime Pte Ltd, which is currently in creditors’ voluntary liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Wednesday (15 July). 

The following are the details of the notice:

Name of Company : Nan Shan Maritime (Pte.) Ltd.(In Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation)
Unique Entity No. / Registration No. : 201701967H
Address of Registered Office : 10 Anson Road, #10-10, International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Amount per centum : 5.00 Per Centum of all admitted unsecured, claims
First and Final or Otherwise : Third Interim
When Payable : 15 July 2026
Where Payable : Entitlements will be made by way of cheque.

 

Photo credit: Drew Beamer
Published: 16 July, 2026

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Winding up

Singapore: Liquidator of Selco (Shipyard) Pte Limited issues notice of dividend

Fifth and final dividend to admitted creditors of Selco (Shipyard) is payable from 13 July, according to Government Gazette notice.
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1 week ago

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July 13, 2026

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A notice of dividend for Selco (Shipyard) Pte Limited, which is currently in compulsory liquidation, was published on the Government Gazette on Friday (10 July). 

The following are the details of the notice:

Name of Company : Selco (Shipyard) Pte Limited (In Compulsory Liquidation) Co. Reg. No. 196800580K
Address of Registered Office : 7 Straits View, Marina One East Tower, Level 12, Singapore 018936
Court : High Court of the Republic of Singapore
Number of Matter : Companies Winding Up No.: 125 of 1986
Amount per centum : 0.499 cents to a dollar
First and final or otherwise : Fifth and final dividend
When payable : From 13th day of July 2026
Where payable : c/o PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services Pte Ltd, 7 Straits View, Marina One East Tower, Level 12, Singapore 018936

 

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 13 July, 2026

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Vessel Arrest

Malaysia: MMEA detains tugboat with undocumented 10,000 litres of diesel in Kuala Langat

Inspection found MYR 5,000 in cash on the vessel and 10,000 litres of diesel, of which the skipper failed to present any document or permit authorising the transport of the diesel fuel.

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1 week ago

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July 13, 2026

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Malaysia: MMEA detains tugboat with undocumented 10,000 litres of diesel in Kuala Langat

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Friday (10 July) said it detained a tugboat  during an enforcement operation in Selangor waters. 

Selangor MMEA director Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the vessel was detained at about 6.35am at about 4.7 nautical miles 0.1 nautical miles from the estuary of Sungai Langat, Kuala Langat. 

He said the initial inspection found that the vessel in question was operated by a 44-year-old skipper along with a 23-year-old crew member, both Indonesian nationals. 

Further inspection found that the vessel did not have a mandatory insurance coverage, including the Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC).

“Inspection also found 10,000 litres of diesel and MYR 5,000 in cash on the vessel,” he said. 

“The skipper also failed to present any document or permit authorising the transport of the diesel fuel, raising suspicions regarding the ownership of the controlled items.”

The tugboat and both crew members were brought to the Pulau Indah Marine Police Force jetty before they were handed over to the Selangor MMEA for further action. 

He added that the case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Control of Supplies Act 1961, and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952.

 

Photo credit: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
Published: 13 July, 2026

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