US Sanctions Target Eswatini Ship Registry and Aryavart Entities

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has expanded its list of Iran-related designations to include four maritime entities, signaling a move to disrupt the administrative and management networks supporting sanctioned trade. The action, announced on November 4, 2026, targets companies linked to Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, a figure now central to several blocked shipping interests.

Targeted Entities and Registry Implications

The sanctioned entities include Aryavart Maritime and Educational Trust, Aryavart Ship Management Private Limited, Polynesia Maritime Private Limited, and Eswatini Maritime Affairs and International Ship Registry Pte. Ltd. By designating these specific firms, the US government has effectively blocked their assets and prohibited US persons from engaging in any transactions with them.

The inclusion of Eswatini Maritime Affairs and International Ship Registry Pte. Ltd. represents a significant escalation in regulatory pressure. For the maritime industry, the sanctioning of a registry-related entity creates immediate compliance complications. Vessels flying a flag administered by a sanctioned entity, or those relying on its corporate services for registration and documentation, risk losing access to global financial and insurance markets.

Operational and Commercial Impact

The designation of Aryavart Ship Management Private Limited carries direct implications for vessel operations and technical management. Any ship currently under the company’s management will likely face immediate challenges in securing P&I cover, processing crew payroll, and settling invoices for bunkers or port services. Financial institutions typically freeze all transactions associated with sanctioned managers to avoid secondary sanctions risks.

Furthermore, the targeting of the Aryavart Maritime and Educational Trust suggests that OFAC is looking beyond traditional ship-owning shell companies. By identifying educational and trust-based entities as part of the sanctioned network, authorities are closing off alternative avenues for capital movement and corporate structuring within the maritime sector. Charterers and cargo owners must now perform deeper due diligence to ensure that no part of their supply chain—including the management and registry level—intersects with these designated parties.

Source: US Treasury (OFAC)