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The UN Banned boast that carried the St.Kitts-Nevis Flag on October 3rd, 2017 was DE-REGISTERED as a St.Kitts-Nevis registered vessel since September 28th, 2017. This was made clear in a statement issued by the St.Kitts-Nevis International Ship Registry . The October 13th statement stated “……. once reliable and credible information came to the St.Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry, the vessel HAO FAN 6 was immediately de-registered on September 28th, 2017. Moreover, we are unaware that any UN sanctions have been imposed on the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis.”

The U.N. Security Council  banned all nations from allowing four ships,  including the HAO FAN 6  that transported prohibited goods to and from North Korea , from entering  any port in their country.

See below FULL STATEMENT issued by the St.Kitts-Nevis International Ship Registry:

 

 

STATEMENT BY THE ST.KITTS AND NEVIS INTERNATIONAL SHIP REGISTRY

 

In compliance with international requirements and the very best practices available, St.Kitts and Nevis has been operating its International Ship Registry since 2005. In this context, before any ship or vessel is registered on the St-Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry a due diligence check is carried out. This includes among other things, checking the following:
1. Office of Foreign Asset Control Website – A department of the US Treasury which enforces economic and trade sanctions
2. Lloyds List Intelligence
3. Port State Control Websites
In addition to these safe guards, it must be noted that the St.Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry also complies with the provisions as enshrined in the Merchant Shipping Act Chapter 7:05. Provided that there are no sanctions or “red flags” and all safety requirements are fulfilled, the particular vessel is registered on the St. Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry.
In the case of Vessel HAO FAN 6, this vessel along with two other vessels in question were subjected to the due diligence checks as outlined above. At no time during the registration process was there any “red flags” indicating that such vessels or their registered owners were in violation of the UN sanctions against the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) or that the ship were owned or operated by DPRK interest.
Its important to note, sanctions lists are very fluid, that is, persons and entities are added and removed from these lists on a regular basis- Therefore, vessels or owners of vessels that did not appear on sanctions lists during the registration process may at some later date become sanctioned persons or entities. The St. Kitts International Ship Registry has and continues to take the necessary measures to deregister vessels from the registry should information be brought to our attention that the vessel or their owners have become sanctioned entities.
It must be stated emphatically that once reliable and credible information came to the St.Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry, the vessel HAO FAN 6 was immediately de-registered on September 28th, 2017. Moreover, we are unaware that any UN sanctions have been imposed on the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis.
St. Kitts and Nevis is a responsible member of the international community and will not intentionally or knowingly violate sanctions that it helps to create against states that threaten global peace an security.

 

Nigel Smith
International Registrar of Shipping & Seamen
St-Kitts and Nevis International Ship Registry
October 13th, 2017