Law firm Clyde & Co has outlined exactly what impact the new European Union (EU) sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its subsidiaries will have on doing business with them. Clyde & Co said the new sanctions meant extra information will be required, Iranian-owned or contracted ships can’t be bunkered, supplied or serviced by EU nationals if they think it’s carrying prohibited items and Iranian-operated cargo planes will not be allowed access to EU airports.
“All member states are required to inspect all cargo, air and sea, to and from Iran if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo contains items, the sale, supply, transfer or export of which is prohibited under these sanctions,” Clyde & Co said.
“Member states may request inspections on the high seas, with the consent of the flag state. Member states are required to co-operate with inspection requests by other member states.” The law firm said any prohibited items would be seized and disposed of, and the costs of this disposal would be paid for by the exporter/importer, or any other person responsible for the attempted supply, sale or transfer. It added: “The provision of bunkering or ship supply services, or servicing of vessels by nationals of member states to Iranian-owned or contracted vessels, including chartered vessels, is prohibited if that national has reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel carries items prohibited under the sanctions, with the exception of services necessary for humanitarian purposes or if the cargo has been inspected, and if necessary, seized and disposed of.” Yesterday,the EU blacklisted IRISL, along with 24 associated companies, in a fourth round of sanctions in response to “concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme”.
Source: Damian Brett, IFW News, 28 July 2010