Line faces sanctions over arms transport

Leading US congressmen are urging the US Treasury Department to consider sanctions against the world's third-largest container shipping company - France's CMA CGM - for possible violations of sanctions on Iran that entail significant instances of weapons smuggling, according to letters obtained by The Jerusalem Post.


In March, the CMA CGM-operated container ship Victoria was seized by the Israel Navy in the Mediterranean and escorted to Ashdod Port. More than 50 tonnes of weapons from Iran were aboard. They included anti-ship missiles, 3,000 mortar shells and almost 70,000 rounds of ammunition for machine guns.


The Victoria's route took it from Latakia, Syria, through the port of Mersin in Turkey to Alexandria, Egypt, Israeli


Ambassador to the UN Meron Reuben said. According to Israeli security officials, the weapons were destined for Hamas in the Gaza Strip.


This is not the first time CMA CGM has reportedly been involved in controversial trade with Iran.


In December, Reprepentative Peter King wrote to Philippe SouliÄ, CEO of the shipping company. King said he was "deeply concerned" about the French firm's trade relationship with the regime in Iran. King is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.


A few weeks earlier, the company's Everest container ship was seized off the Nigerian coast, fully loaded with Iranian weapons. King warned the shipping company against half-heartedly monitoring its freight in light of international sanctions.


In a letter made available to the Post, he said the shipper should expect "severe penalties" in the United States.


SouliÄ wrote in response that the Everest had been chartered by a company that did not appear on the US Treasury's sanctions list.


SouliÄ assured King that the company was fully aware of the UN, US and EU sanctions. He insisted that CMA CGM was at the "forefront of shipping companies" in adherence to laws and regulations, especially in regard to the Iranian regime.


However, barely three months later, the Victoria became the next French ship to be seized with Iranian weapons aboard.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)