Sanctions

US OFAC sanctions Malaysian firm Transmarine Navigation

Transmarine allegedly provided forged documents for the US-sanctioned “Dawn II”, falsely showing commodities on board were of Malaysian rather than Iranian-origin.

Published

2 years ago

September 2, 2024

Admin

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently took action against Malaysian maritime agency Transmarine Navigation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (Transmarine).

Transmarine was accused of providing forged documents for the US-sanctioned Dawn II (IMO: 9185530), falsely showing the commodities on board were of Malaysian rather than Iranian-origin.

“Transmarine was also involved in the transportation of Iranian commodities aboard the US-sanctioned Reneez (IMO: 9232450) on behalf of Sa’id al-Jamal,” OFAC said in a statement.

Transmarine was among the several companies, individuals, and vessels sanctioned for their involvement in the shipment of Iranian commodities, including oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on behalf of the network of Iran-based, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF)-backed Houthi financial official Sa’id al-Jamal.

UAE-based K F D General Trading L.L.C. has similarly aided the al-Jamal network in arranging a shipment of Iranian commodities to the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Transmarine and KFD General Trading L.L.C. are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Sa’id al-Jamal.

“OFAC is also updating the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) entry for the sanctioned vessel Artura (IMO: 9150365), which was responsible for shipping commodities for Sa’id al-Jamal, to reflect the changing of its name to OHAR,” it added.

“The revenue from al-Jamal’s network helps finance the Houthis’ reckless targeting of shipping in the Red Sea and civilian infrastructure, which has led to grave consequences for both the region and the international community.”

“Today’s action underscores our continued commitment to disrupting Iran’s primary source of funding to its regional terrorist proxies like Lebanese Hizballah and the Houthis,” said Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith.

“Our message is clear: those who seek to finance these groups’ destabilising activities will be held to account.”

Note: The full statement by OFAC can be read here.

Photo credit: tommao wang on Unsplash
Published: 2 September, 2024

Sanctions

US reinstates Iran oil sanctions, orders wind-down by 17 July

US has revoked a licence permitting the purchase of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and petroleum products, with the restrictions taking effect immediately.

Published

6 days ago

July 8, 2026

Admin

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Tuesday (7 July) revoked a licence that had temporarily authorised transactions involving crude oil, petrochemical products and petroleum products of Iranian origin.

Under the new licence, the purchase of Iranian crude oil, petrochemical products and petroleum products is prohibited with immediate effect.

The latest licence replaces an authorisation issued on 22 June, which had been scheduled to remain in force until 21 August. The previous authorisation permitted the bunkering of vessels engaged in the approved transactions.

Parties that entered into contracts for Iranian oil during the period in which the authorisation was in effect have until 17 July to wind down Iran-related transactions.

Photo credit: Zbynek Burival on Unsplash
Published: 8 July, 2026

Incident

UK forces intercept suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel

In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel “SMYRTOS” was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency.

Published

4 weeks ago

June 16, 2026

Admin

UK forces intercept suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker in English Channel

British Armed Forces on Sunday (14 June) boarded a sanctioned oil tanker, suspected of being part of the Russian shadow fleet, in the English Channel, according to the Ministry of Defence.

In the first UK-led operation of its kind, the vessel SMYRTOS was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and law enforcement officers from the National Crime Agency.

The UK’s Prime Minister agreed in March that British Armed Forces and law enforcement officers were able to board shadow fleet vessels, in accordance with international law.

The SMYRTOS will be provisionally moved to an anchorage off the South Coast of England and will be monitored for any environmental or safety concerns.

UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, said: “This operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fueling Putin’s war in Ukraine that they cannot hide.

“I want to pay tribute to all those involved, including our Armed Forces and law enforcement officers who keep this country safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

The operation builds on recent support provided by the UK to its allies to interdict shadow fleet vessels, which included RAF and Royal Navy capabilities supporting US and French operations. The operation was conducted in close coordination with the French.

The UK has sanctioned almost 600 Russian shadow fleet vessels to date.

Photo credit: Ministry of Defence
Published: 16 June, 2026

Winding up

Singapore: LNG Alpha Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies to be wound up voluntarily

In 2024, the US reportedly imposed sanctions on LNG Gamma Shipping, LNG Delta Shipping, LNG Beta Shipping and LNG Alpha Shipping for their alleged links to Russian LNG producer Novatek.

Published

2 months ago

May 21, 2026

Admin

Several notices in the Government Gazette were published by the Director of LNG Alpha Shipping Pte Ltd and related companies on Wednesday (20 May), regarding some resolutions that were passed in relation to the winding up of the companies.

The other companies are LNG Delta Shipping Pte Ltd, LNG Beta Shipping Pte Ltd and LNG Gamma Shipping Pte Ltd.

The following resolutions were duly passed during an Extraordinary General Meeting for the companies:

AS SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

Resolved:

That the Company be wound up voluntarily pursuant to Section 160(1)(b) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018, and that Mr Lum Chi Lup Benny of 190 Middle Road, #17-05 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979, be and is hereby appointed as Liquidator for the purpose of such winding-up.
That the Liquidator be and is hereby authorised (when and as soon as the debts and liabilities of the Company have been paid and satisfied or duly provided for) to distribute the assets in specie or kind among the contributories of the Company in accordance with their respective rights and interests.
That the Liquidator of the Company be and is hereby authorised to exercise any of the powers given by Sections 144(1)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018.

AS ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

Resolved:

That the Liquidator, Mr Lum Chi Lup Benny be remunerated for the work of winding-up the Company on his normal scale of fees and that the Liquidator be indemnified by the Company against all costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred or sustained by him in the execution and discharge of his duties in relation thereto.
That pursuant to Section 195(2) of the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018, the books, accounts and documents of the Company and those of the Liquidator shall be retained for a period of 5 years after the dissolution of the Company and, at the expiration of that period, the documents may be destroyed.

In 2024, it was reported that all four Singapore-based LNG shipping companies were sanctioned by the US for their links to the Russian LNG producer Novatek. They are all majority-owned by New Transhipment FZE, a Novatek subsidiary based in the United Arab Emirates.

Photo credit: Benjamin Child
Published: 21 May, 2026