Mystery HDS Lines takes over box business from banned IRISL

IRANIAN flag-carrier Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), suffering bans from the US and Britain, has transferred its container operations to a new and hitherto unknown entity called HDS Lines without warning or announcement.

The move comes after United States ban was imposed last year after IRISL was reportedly caught transporting weapons for the Iranian military in violation of a UN arms embargo, reported Paris-based maritime consultancy AXS Alphaliner.

The British government also imposed a ban on financial services to IRISL in October after a consignment of ammunition was discovered on an IRISL operated vessel, said the Alphaliner newsletter.

HDS Lines is said to be a privately owned company registered in Iran and commenced operations from November 20, but there is little information about its ownership or corporate structure.

IRISL operated liner services in the Far East, Middle East and Europe. Its main linehaul services include its AMEL service (Asia Med Express Line), connecting the Far East, Indian subcontinent and Middle East with Malta; the AMCL service (Asia Middle-East Container Line) connecting the Far East to Middle East and ECL (Europe Container Line) connecting Europe and the Middle East,

IRISL operated 65 general cargo and container vessels ranging from 100-6,500 TEU. It is also involved in a dispute with Hanjin Heavy Industries over the delivery of three 6,500-TEUers it ordered in March 2005. The ships have been completed but IRISL has been unable to take delivery because of the sanctions imposed. The three ships are on the block but thus far no buyers have come forward.

Source: www.schednet.com