Major Chinese port group bans tankers on OFAC’s sanctions list

Shandong Port Group has banned any tanker sanctioned by the US from calling at its ports. 

The group oversees major ports on China’s northeast coast including Qingdao, Rizhao and Yantai, which are among the biggest destinations for sanctioned oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela.

Reuters has obtained notices sent out by the ports group this week which state that its ports are no longer allowed to dock, unload or provide ship services to vessels on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list managed by the US Treasury.

Reports have emerged in recent days that the outgoing Joe Biden administration is readying one of its largest packages of sanctions aimed at Russia’s so-called dark fleet of tankers, while Donald Trump, who assumes the presidency of the US on January 20, is being widely tipped to crack down on Iranian oil exports.