The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Thursday (20 March) sanctioned a “teapot” oil refinery and its chief executive officer for purchasing and refining hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian crude oil, including from vessels linked to Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, and the Iranian Ministry of Defense of Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd (Luqing Petrochemical), a teapot refinery in Shandong Province, has purchased millions of barrels of Iranian oil worth approximately half a billion dollars. 

Luqing Petrochemical received Iranian oil transported by shadow fleet vessels, some of which have been sanctioned for their role transporting Iranian petroleum linked to the Houthis and MODAFL, including the MEHLE (IMO: 9191711) and the KOHANA (IMO: 9254082). In mid-2022, Luqing Petrochemical was identified as a buyer of Iranian oil associated with the Iranian military and Iranian military forces.

Luqing Petrochemical is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for operating in the petroleum sector of the Iranian economy. PRC national Wang Xueqing serves as the chief executive officer and legal representative of Luqing Petrochemical, and is being concurrently designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Luqing Petrochemical. 

“Teapot refinery purchases of Iranian oil provide the primary economic lifeline for the Iranian regime, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. 

“The United States is committed to cutting off the revenue streams that enable Tehran’s continued financing of terrorism and development of its nuclear program.”

OFAC additionally imposed sanctions on 19 entities and vessels responsible for shipping millions of barrels of Iranian oil, comprising part of Iran’s “shadow fleet” of tankers supplying teapot refineries like Luqing Petrochemical. 

Iranian crude oil is transported to teapot refineries via a “shadow fleet” of vessels that usually engage in deceptive shipping practices, including automatic identification system (AIS) manipulation.

OFAC sanctioned eight vessels that constitute part of this fleet, including the Comoros-flagged NATALINA 7 (IMO: 9310147), Panama-flagged CATALINA 7 (IMO: 9310159), AURORA RILEY (IMO: 9181649), and VIOLA (IMO: 9254915), San Marino-flagged MONTROSE (IMO: 9281695), Barbados-flagged VOLANS (IMO: 9422988) and BRAVA LAKE (IMO: 9232876), and the currently unflagged TITAN (IMO: 9293741).

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Published: 24 March, 2025

Maritime data, insights and analytics provider Lloyd’s List Intelligence (LLI) on Tuesday (14 January) announced the acquisition of Infospectrum, an independent provider of counterparty risk appraisal reports & data, due diligence research and KYC intelligence.

The acquisition expands LLI’s ability to deliver analysis and risk management intelligence solutions. 

The integration of Infospectrum’s comprehensive counterparty risk appraisal, due diligence and KYC intelligence capabilities and data, will enable the combined business to provide customers with more accurate, reliable, and timely risk based decision-making solutions. 

With the maritime sector facing increasing complexity from global sanctions, compliance, safety, geo-political and legal considerations, the combination will enable LLI to build solutions that deliver actionable insights and help customers successfully navigate key use cases associated with compliance, risk management and operations.

“The acquisition of Infospectrum is an important milestone for Lloyd’s List Intelligence,” said Michael Dell, CEO, Lloyd’s List Intelligence. 

“This acquisition is a significant step forward in our mission to provide the most comprehensive and insightful risk intelligence solutions that support the global maritime industry. By combining our respective strengths, we will deliver stronger capabilities to our customers and enhance our ability to act as a provider of mission critical data, insights and analytics for the maritime sector as a whole.”

“We are excited to join forces with Lloyd’s List Intelligence,” said Panos Panousis, Managing Director, Infospectrum. 

“This combination will unlock significant opportunities for both companies and provide the maritime ecosystem with access to a broader range of data, analytics, and intelligence. We are confident that together we will accelerate innovation and deliver exceptional solutions to the maritime industry.”

Photo credit: Lloyd’s List Intelligence
Published: 14 January, 2025

The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions against two of Russia’s most significant oil producers and exporters, Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas.

The actions are underpinned by the issuance of a new determination that authorises sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 against persons operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Gazprom Neft is a Russia-based, vertically integrated oil company whose core activities include the exploration, production, and sale of oil while Surgutneftegas is a Russia-based, vertically integrated oil company whose core activities include the exploration, production, and sale of oil.

Alongside Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, OFAC is designating more than two dozen Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas subsidiaries. 

All entities owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Gazprom Neft, Surgutneftegas, or their subsidiaries listed, are also subject to blocking, even if not identified by OFAC.

OFAC also imposed sanctions on over 180 vessels that have shipped Russian oil. 

“Today’s actions also impose sanctions on an unprecedented number of oil-carrying vessels, many of which are part of the “shadow fleet,” opaque traders of Russian oil, Russia-based oilfield service providers, and Russian energy officials,” it said.

“Today’s actions are underpinned by the issuance of a new determination that authorizes sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 against persons operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy. These actions substantially increase the sanctions risks associated with the Russian oil trade.”

Russia-based fleet and bunker operator Gazpromneft Marine Bunker Limited Liability Company (Gazpromneft Marine Bunker), a Gazprom Neft subsidiary, is involved in the delivery of bunker fuel for vessels. 

OFAC also said Gazpromneft Marine Bunker is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy and pursuant to E.O. 13662 for operating in the energy sector of the Russian Federation economy.

OFAC is also identifying the following vessels, all of which Gazpromneft Marine Bunker operates, pursuant to E.O. 14024 and E.O. 13662 as property in which Gazpromneft Marine Bunker has an interest:

• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker GazpromneftZuid East (IMO 9537109)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker GazpromneftNordwest (IMO 9590137)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Omsk (IMO 9418509)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Tymen (IMO 9422653)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Olanga (IMO 9286463)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Murmansk (IMO 9167930)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Dmitry Mendeleev (IMO 9888182)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Shturman Shcherbinin (IMO 9759927)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Shturman Koshelev (IMO 9759939)
• Russia-flagged chemical/oil tanker Shturman Skuratov (IMO 9759915)

Photo credit: tommao wang on Unsplash
Published: 13 January, 2024