PGSA to file complaint against Sinokor Shipping Co. vessels

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) has said it will lodge a complaint against vessels belonging to Sinokor Shipping Co., according to Mehr News. The announcement concerns shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which a large share of regional and international maritime trade passes.

The PGSA had earlier stated that, as of October 20, it had dealt with more than 40 vessels found in violation of its rules in the waterway. In a message detailing the status of its vessel non-compliance list, the authority said 122 vessels had been added to the list up to that point. The authority did not, in the details reported, specify the nature of the alleged violations or the nationalities and flags of the vessels concerned.

The latest statement indicates that the authority intends to pursue formal action against Sinokor Shipping Co. over its vessels. The report did not give a date for the planned complaint, the body before which it would be filed, or the number of vessels involved. It also did not state what specific measures the authority has taken against vessels already placed on its non-compliance list.

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important passage for global energy shipments and commercial shipping, and authorities in the region have periodically announced inspections and enforcement measures against vessels they say do not comply with local maritime regulations. Such announcements are closely watched by shipping companies and insurers operating in the Gulf.

According to Mehr News, the PGSA's earlier message focused on the status of its non-compliance list, noting that 122 vessels had been added so far and that more than 40 violating vessels had been dealt with. The report by Mehr News added that the authority now plans to lodge a complaint against Sinokor Shipping Co. vessels, without providing further details on the timing or scope of the action.