IRClass has taken a tougher stance on vessels involved in evading international trade sanctions by cancelling the certification of more than 200 tankers and other ships since 2023 

Since 2023, the Indian Register of Shipping has de-classed 235 vessels. This is because the Mumbai-based classification society has tightened its sanctions compliance policy, as revealed in an interview published. The majority of the vessels were oil tankers, with a smaller number of gas carriers. According to Sharma, IRClass removed around 13 million gross tonnes of sanctioned tonnage from its register after the owners failed to provide satisfactory explanations as to why the ships had been sanctioned. 

A tougher stance  

 Meanwhile, the head of India's ship safety certifier told Reuters that the agency has taken a tougher stance on vessels involved in evading international trade sanctions by cancelling the certification of more than 200 tankers and other ships since 2023 Vessels may find it more difficult to secure insurance and gain access to ports if they are removed from the Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass)'s list, which is one of the world's leading ship certification bodies.

The majority of vessels were oil tankers 

Arun Sharma, the executive chairman of the Mumbai-based non-profit organisation IRClass, emphasised that the company had deregistered several ships, the majority of which were oil tankers and a small number of which were gas carriers. He stated that the registry had previously owned several ships that had been subject to Western sanctions, but that it now had a "very comprehensive" sanctions policy.

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Since 2023, no ships subject to sanctions have been accepted. 

"Since 2023, we have not accepted any ships subject to sanctions, whether from the US, Europe or the UK," Sharma said, referring to Western sanctions imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and on Iran over its nuclear programme and other activities.

A Different stance from China

IRClass' move is a sign of India taking a different stance from China, which last month ordered firms not to comply with U.S. sanctions on five Chinese refiners over their purchases of Iranian oil, and India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, also declined Russia's offer to sell it liquefied natural gas subject to U.S. sanctions last month.

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'Shadow fleet' of ships 

However, not certifying ships also risks adding to the so-called 'shadow fleet' of ships with no known insurance or compliance with environmental safety standards. Not only have hundreds of such ships helped Iran and Russia circumvent sanctions, but they have also posed a threat of oil spills and fuel leaks in busy sea lanes.

A tougher stance is being adopted by one of India's main ship classification bodies, as class societies, insurers and port authorities are facing growing scrutiny over vessels linked to international sanctions. Being removed from the register can make it more difficult for a vessel to obtain insurance and access ports.  

About:  IRClass (Indian Register of Shipping) 

 IRClass (Indian Register of Shipping) is an international ship classification society and a non-profit organisation founded in India in 1975. It sets technical standards for the design, construction, and survey of ships and offshore structures, and is a full member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).

Source: Reuters
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