The United Nations has reportedly issued a global port ban against four ships accused of violating sanctions imposed on North Korea.
The ships were reportedly the 9,800-dwt Petrel 8 (built 2011), the 13,500-dwt Hao Fan 6 (built 2009), the 6,000-dwt Tong San 2 (built 1996) and the 4,800-dwt Jie Shun (built 1986).
The vessels are owned by Dalian Longgang Shipping, Zhejiang Haoheng, Shipping Imperial and an unknown Chinese shipowner, according to on-line platform VesselsValue.
Hugh Griffiths, co-ordinator of a UN panel on North Korean sanctions, described the move as unprecedented, in remarks made to newswires.
“The designation doesn’t mean an assets freeze or travel ban. But it’s a port ban,” he is quoted as saying, adding the ships were found “transporting prohibited goods”.
An unnamed source quoted by various news agencies said the four ships were found carrying coal, seafood and iron ore, exports banned by a UN resolution brought by the US in August.
The ban was expanded last month to include textiles and North Korean guest workers, and also capped oil exports.
