* Iran shipping sector facing more pressure
* Certification vital for insurance and ports access
LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A Chinese firm has stopped
verifying safety and environmental standards for Iranian ships,
becoming the last top certification provider to end marine work
there as the trade noose on Tehran tightens.
The China Classification Society (CCS) is the last of the
world's top 13 such companies, all members of the International
Association of Classification Societies (IACS), to confirm it
has ended Iran-related certification work, key to insurance and
ports access for ships.
China and other countries in Asia including South Korea
continue to buy Iran's oil, but the loss of major ship
certifiers has raised concerns over the quality of insurance
cover and future maintenance of Iranian ships.
"Non IACS members do not have the global network to support
ships anywhere in the world. So, if something might happen, the
vessels are going to have to travel a further distance to get
assistance," a ship industry source said.
"Without elite classification and insurance cover, you
shudder to think what the implications of that are."
The IACS classes more than 90 percent of the world's
merchant fleet. It is made up of the top 13 of the more than 50
agencies that classify vessels. CCS is among the top providers.
A letter seen by Reuters dated Nov. 15 showed
Beijing-headquartered CCS had not provided certification
services to Iranian ships since June 28. It had been urged to
pull out by U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran
(UANI) and clarify its position.
"Currently there is not any ship flying an Iranian flag or
owned by an Iranian ship owner in our fleet, and we have not
conducted any statutory survey for any Iranian ship," CCS
chairman and president Sun Licheng said in the letter to UANI
dated Nov. 15.
An official with CCS's international department confirmed it
had sent a letter to UANI chief executive Mark Wallace.
"Wallace sent us an email and we issued a reply to them on
Nov. 15," the official told Reuters on Wednesday.
When asked why they had taken the decision, the official
said: "It has been clearly explained in our letter," declining
further comment.
Despite the CCS move, China continues to be the biggest
taker of Iranian oil - a vital revenue earner for Tehran.
"It is surprising to see CCS making this move but it could
be a case of it being a publicly known entity. So, it seems like
it's a perception issue," the ship industry source said.
IRAN SHIPPING TARGETED
A targeted campaign by UANI, which includes former U.S.
ambassadors as well as former CIA and British intelligence
chiefs on its board and is funded by private donations, has
already led to other top classification societies exiting Iran.
Without certification from classification societies, vessels
are unable to secure insurance cover or call at most
international ports.
UANI's Wallace on Wednesday welcomed the move by CCS, but
sought harsher measures being imposed on Iran's fleet.
"All of the world's major shipping certifiers have now ended
their certification of Iranian vessels," said Wallace, a former
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
"We call for even tougher sanctions: any vessel that docks
in Iran or transports Iranian cargo should be barred from
accessing ports in the U.S., EU, or elsewhere."
Iran's shipping trade has been battered by Western
sanctions, aimed at pressuring Iran over its disputed nuclear
programme. Shipping is reeling from a ban on insurance cover
from Europe while many maritime authorities have de-flagged
Iranian ships. Ship owners have also cut trade ties fearing the
loss of business in markets such as the United States.
Earlier this month Hong Kong said it would stop allowing 19
ships linked to Iran's biggest cargo carrier the Islamic
Republic of Iran Shipping Lines from operating under its flag.