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Sanctioned tanker caught in ship-to-ship transfer near China

The 'Chon Ma San', a sanctioned North Korean oil tanker, was photographed conducting a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer off the coast of Shanghai in mid-January 2020 in violation of UN resolutions, according to the latest in a series of reports on such activities from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Japan concluded that the vessel. designated by the U.S. Treasury and the UN in early 2018, was likely engaging in a STS transfer with another vessel of unknown nationality. The ship began broadcasting its location again in October after an over-two-year hiatus, revealing at least four trips through the strait between Korea and Japan and, notably, a four-day period of circling in the strait following the January STS transfer. A photograph taken by the Japanese Tokiwa replenishment tanker around midnight on Jan 11 showed the 'Chon Ma San' linked up with a ship with the name “明波5 (Ming Bo 5) 240 km eastern offshore of Shanghai- STS transfers of any goods or items that are being supplied, sold, or transferred to or from the DPRK were banned under UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2375 passed in September 2017. The 'Chon Ma San' and its managing company, the Korea Achim Shipping Co., were added to the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list in Feb 2018. On the very same day, it was photographed by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force aircraft engaging in a STS transfer with the Maldivian-flagged tanker 'Xin Yuan 18' around the same location off Shanghai as in the latest case. The UNSC North Korea sanctions committee followed in March that year by taking the recommendations of a member state and voting to also sanction both the 'Chon Ma San' and the Korea Achim Shipping Co., resulting in an asset freeze on the vessel and a ban on port calls to member states. The U.S. continued to pursue the tanker’s activities, and in August 2018 sanctioned two Russian entities connected to the Russian-flagged vessel 'Patriot' that was found to be engaging in STS transfers with the Chon Ma San. Treasury sanctioned the Primorye Maritime Logistics Co Ltd and Gudzon Shipping Co LLC, the 'Patriot’s registered ship owners and managers after the transfer of 2,000 tons of oil to the 'Chon MA San'. The ultimate buyer was UN- and U.S.-designated Taesong Bank, a North Korean entity subordinate to the UN- and U.S.-designated Workers’ Party of Korea Office 39, which engages in illicit economic activities for North Korean leadership. Report with photo: https://www.nknews.org/2020/02/sanctioned-north-korean-tanker-caught-in-ship-to-ship-transfer-near-china-japan/

Case of STS transfer between two vessels has become an international investigation case

The Defense Minister Adam Shareef on March 11, 2018, has claimed the case of a high-seas ship-to-ship (STS) transfer between two vessels – one identified a North Korean vessel with the other hoisting Maldives flag – has become an international investigation. He stated the situation was sensitive as the STS between a US sanctioned North Korea and the alleged vessel of Maldives has become a critical international politics scandal. Shareef confirmed that while the investigation was carried out internationally with several countries involved, Maldives has been cooperating with the probe by delivering all relevant information about the case as well. He also linked the ongoing state of emergency in Maldives with the STS transfer between both countries, strongly hinting an international conspiracy to overthrow the island nation’s government. The "Chon Ma San", designated by the United States as a sanction target, was spotted by a Japanese surveillance plane with the Maldivian-flagged tanker "Xin Yuan 18" 250 km east of Shanghai on March 10. The Maldives transport authority however in a statement denied any links to the vessel insisting that the "Xin Yuan 18" was not a vessel registered in the Maldives. The authority does not allow any foreign vessel to register in the Maldives to sail outside the country in international waters. Report with photos: https://avas.mv/en/46030