US Sanctions Mumbai’s Marshal Ship Management Over Alleged Iran Oil Trade
Mumbai-based Marshal Ship Management Pvt Ltd has been sanctioned by the US government for allegedly facilitating an international network involved in shipping Iranian oil to China. The company, alongside multiple vessels, was blacklisted by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for its role in supporting Iran’s oil trade operations that violated US sanctions.
Marshal Ship Management, which provides crew and shipping services globally, has reportedly played a crucial role in the operations of a “shadow” fleet of tankers used to transport Iranian oil. Among the vessels sanctioned are the Comoros-flagged Siri VLCC, Panama-flagged CH Billion, and the Hong Kong-flagged Star Forest VLCC. Additionally, the company’s director, Ryan Xavier Aranha, and the Indian crew management company were sanctioned for allegedly aiding in the falsification of shipping documents. The company is accused of helping Sepehr Energy, a front company linked to Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS), to hide the origin of the oil shipments. These actions are believed to have supported the Iranian regime’s funding of several regional terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis.
The US Treasury’s statement highlights that such operations are part of Iran’s broader efforts to fund its nuclear ambitions and develop missile programs. Marshal Ship Management, founded in 2019 and headquartered in Andheri, Mumbai, operates over 100 ships globally and employs over 3,000 crew members. Despite the serious allegations, the company has not responded to requests for comment. This move follows similar actions taken against other Mumbai-based companies like Gatik Shipping, which was also sanctioned for its involvement in the transportation of Russian oil in violation of sanctions. With 283 tankers still actively transporting Iranian crude oil without being blacklisted, the US government continues to target global networks facilitating Iran’s oil trade, aiming to curb funding for its military and nuclear programs.
