Iranian Forces Threaten Sinokor with “Legal Action” for Hormuz Violations

Iran’s so-called Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which claims jurisdiction over the Strait of Hormuz, has for the first time singled out one shipping company for “legal action.” It comes as Iran has intensified its actions over the past weeks against tankers and has been looking to interrupt the shuttle operations bringing crude out from the Gulf states.

In a posting on social media, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority asserts Sinokor Shipping Company has “committed the highest number of passage violations over the past three months.” The Iranians had asserted that they were contacting shipping companies, negotiating to prevent listing, or securing the removal of vessels from their so-called non-compliance list.

The Iranians are now warning that as of November 1, they will take unspecified “legal action” against all vessels related to Sinokor. They highlight that they have already taken what they termed “appropriate enforcement measures” against at least seven of Sinokor’s ships, i.e., they have been attacked while making transits using the southern Hormuz channel.

Sinokor, which is based in South Korea, has drawn attention this year after it launched a buying spree mostly of VLCCs, with reports it was financed by MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. The company is led by what the Financial Times terms a "secretive Korean tycoon, Ga-Hyun Chung." Veson Nautical reports Sinokor acquired more than 70 crude oil tankers this year, with reports putting the total fleet between 80 and 90 owned tankers and many others under charter.

This story was originally published by The Maritime Executive. Read the full story at The Maritime Executive →