Indian Register of Shipping delists over 200 tankers due to sanctions against Russia and Iran
Kyiv • UNN
The IRClass register has canceled the certification of vessels with a total deadweight of 13 million tons. This will complicate the operation of the tankers and their access to international ports.
The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass), one of the world's leading ship safety certification bodies, has removed 235 vessels—primarily oil tankers—from its register since 2023 due to their involvement in violating international sanctions. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
Details
According to IRClass Executive Chairman Arun Sharma, the organization has tightened its sanctions policy and no longer certifies vessels that are under restrictions imposed by the United States, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.
"Since almost 2023, we have not been accepting any vessels that are subject to any sanctions, whether they are US, European, or UK sanctions,"
What has changed
IRClass noted that the excluded vessels were predominantly oil tankers and several gas carriers. In total, the company canceled the certification of approximately 13 million gross tons of tonnage. According to Sharma, the owners of these vessels were unable to provide convincing explanations regarding the reasons for being sanctioned.
Removal from the register can significantly complicate vessel operations, as without certification, it is harder for them to obtain insurance and access international ports. At the same time, experts warn that such decisions may increase the number of vessels in the so-called "shadow fleet," which operate without proper oversight and pose risks to maritime safety and the environment.
The move by the Indian register demonstrates the country's tougher approach to sanction restrictions. Reuters notes that India also previously rejected a proposal from the Russian Federation for the supply of liquefied natural gas under a scheme that could have fallen under US sanctions.