Iran to Take Legal Action Against Sinokor-Linked Vessels

Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority says it will take legal action against vessels it associates with South Korean shipping company Sinokor beginning November 1, accusing them of repeated violations of its Strait of Hormuz transit rules. The authority has not described the legal measures it plans to pursue. In a statement, the authority said Sinokor vessels recorded more crossing violations than those of any other operator during the previous three months. It also said enforcement measures had already been taken against at least seven vessels, without identifying them or providing details of the alleged violations. The authority’s allegations have not been accompanied in the reports by vessel-by-vessel records or supporting transit data. Its announcement warned cargo owners, charterers and insurers that vessels it identifies as belonging to Sinokor would face legal action from November 1. The Korea Shipowners Association disputed the vessels’ connection to Sinokor. It said the vessels involved were not owned by the company, had been subchartered to an overseas oil company and carried no South Korean crew. The association said it confirmed the vessel and crew details with a...