# Sanctions Lists to Check Before a Port Call > Screen the UN, EU, UK OFSI and US OFAC SDN lists before every port call. A chandler's checklist for vessel, owner, manager, charterer and payer checks. URL: https://vesselreach.si/blog/which-sanctions-lists-to-check-before-a-port-call | Published: 2026-11-07 | Updated: 2026-11-08 | Guide | Topic: Segment playbooks (marine services) ## In short Four sanctions lists apply before a port call: the UN Security Council consolidated list, the EU consolidated list, the UK OFSI consolidated list and the US OFAC SDN list. Each binds different parties, and a clean result on one does not clear the others. Screen the vessel's IMO number, previous names, owner, manager, DOC holder, charterer and payment route before confirming the order. ## Key takeaways - A clean name search is not enough: Adani Enterprises paid $275m in May 2026 after OFAC found its pre-cargo screening missed the real risk. - Screen the IMO number and previous names against all four lists, because reflagging and renaming are common evasion tactics. - The DOC holder under the ISM Code is often the real counterparty, not the registered owner on the fixture. - A US-dollar payment brings the transaction into OFAC scope even when both parties sit outside the US. - In October 2026 the US Treasury sanctioned a law firm and shipping agents in Singapore and Dubai, so agents are now in scope. ## At a glance - **What: What sanctions lists apply to a port call?** The UN Security Council consolidated list, the EU consolidated list, the UK OFSI consolidated list and the US OFAC SDN list. Each binds different parties and transactions. ([Splash247](https://splash247.com/shippings-275m-lesson-in-the-limits-of-sanctions-screening/)) - **Who: Who is widening sanctions enforcement to service providers?** The US Treasury sanctioned a law firm, shipping agents in Singapore and Dubai, and nine vessels accused of helping Iran move oil, according to gCaptain (October 2026). ([gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/u-s-sanctions-law-firm-shipping-agents-and-nine-vessels-in-iran-shadow-fleet-crackdown/)) - **Where: Where have sanctioned Russian vessels been observed forming up?** Sanctioned Russian-flagged vessels have been observed forming up in Baltiysk, according to The Maritime Executive (November 2026), meaning more may appear at ports outside Russia. ([The Maritime Executive](https://maritime-executive.com/article/sanctioned-russian-merchant-vessels-are-underway)) - **When: When did Adani Enterprises agree to pay $275m over screening failures?** In May 2026, Adani Enterprises agreed to pay $275m after OFAC found its pre-cargo screening of ships, operators and sellers had missed the real risk, according to Splash247. ([Splash247](https://splash247.com/shippings-275m-lesson-in-the-limits-of-sanctions-screening/)) - **Why: Why is a name search alone insufficient?** A 2026 study in Dynamics of Politics and Democracy found shadow fleet operations produce opacity through reflagging, AIS manipulation, shell companies and uncertain insurance, so the registered owner may not be the real counterparty. ([Dynamics of Politics and Democracy](https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v6.n1.p1-15.2026)) - **How: How should a chandler approach sanctions compliance?** A 2025 paper in the HAPSc Policy Briefs Series calls for a risk-based approach combining vessel identification, ownership analysis and continuous monitoring to counter layered evasion tactics. ([HAPSc Policy Briefs Series (National Documentation Centre)](https://doi.org/10.12681/hapscpbs.45358)) Before you confirm a chandlery order, a bunker stem or a husbandry request, screen four lists: the UN Security Council consolidated list, the EU consolidated list, the UK OFSI consolidated list and the US OFAC SDN list. A clean result on one does not clear the others, because each list binds different parties and reaches different transactions. This [sanctions screening](https://vesselreach.si/blog/how-to-verify-a-ship-supply-customer-before-extending-credit) checklist covers what each list is, how it applies to a specific port call, and the checks that catch the risk a name search misses. ## Which sanctions lists apply to a port call? All four apply, but they bind different parties in different ways. The UN list is the base layer that most jurisdictions implement. The EU and UK lists bind entities operating in or through their territories. The US OFAC SDN list reaches any transaction with a US nexus, including US-dollar payments. ### UN Security Council consolidated list The UN list is adopted by member states and transposed into national law. It is the narrowest of the four in practice, but it is the floor: if a vessel, owner or charterer appears there, every UN member state is expected to freeze assets and stop dealings. ### EU consolidated list The EU list applies to EU nationals, companies and anyone doing business in the EU. For a chandler in Rotterdam, Piraeus or Algeciras, an EU-listed owner or technical manager on the vessel's IMO number (the unique seven-digit ship identifier) record is a hard stop. ### UK OFSI consolidated list The UK list, maintained by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, applies to UK persons and entities. It diverges from the EU list in places, so a vessel cleared under EU rules may still be caught by UK regulations, particularly for Russian-linked ownership. ### US OFAC SDN list The SDN list is the widest in reach because of the US dollar. Any payment routed through a US bank, or any US person involved, brings the transaction into OFAC's scope. OFAC also lists vessels and companies linked to Iran, Russia and Venezuela that may not appear on the EU or UK lists. ## Why a clean name search is not enough In May 2026, Adani Enterprises agreed to pay $275m after OFAC found that its pre-cargo screening of ships, operators and sellers had missed the real risk, according to [Splash247](https://splash247.com/shippings-275m-lesson-in-the-limits-of-sanctions-screening/). The names were clean. The settlement shows that screening names alone does not satisfy a regulator when the ownership or trading pattern behind the vessel is opaque. Peer-reviewed research supports the same point. A 2025 paper in the HAPSc Policy Briefs Series argues that layered evasion tactics, including AIS manipulation, unclear ownership structures and document falsification, undermine fragmented compliance frameworks, and calls for a risk-based approach that combines vessel identification, ownership analysis and continuous monitoring ([HAPSc Policy Briefs Series](https://doi.org/10.12681/hapscpbs.45358), December 2025). A 2026 study in Dynamics of Politics and Democracy found that shadow fleet operations produce maritime opacity through reflagging, AIS manipulation, shell companies and uncertain insurance ([Dynamics of Politics and Democracy](https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v6.n1.p1-15.2026), July 2026). For a chandler, that means the registered owner on the fixture may not be the party you are actually dealing with. ## What to check for each port call Run these checks before you confirm the order, not after the vessel berths. 1. **Vessel identity.** Screen the IMO number and current name against all four lists. Check previous names too, because reflagging and renaming are common evasion tactics. 2. **Registered owner, technical manager and DOC holder.** The DOC holder (the company holding the Document of Compliance under the ISM Code) is often the real counterparty, not the owner on the bill of lading. 3. **Charterer and commercial operator.** The party booking the bunker stem or chandlery order may be a time charterer with no ownership link to the vessel. 4. **Port history.** Look at recent port calls. A vessel that has called at sanctioned ports or loaded in a known shadow-fleet pattern warrants a closer look. 5. **Payment route.** Confirm the currency and the bank before you agree terms. A US-dollar payment brings the transaction into OFAC scope even if the parties are outside the US. 6. **Insurance and P&I.** Ask for the P&I club (the mutual protection and indemnity insurer covering third-party liability) and verify cover is in place. Uncertain insurance is a shadow-fleet marker, as the Dynamics of Politics and Democracy study notes. ## How the lists differ in practice The same vessel can be clear on one list and caught on another. A Russian-flagged tanker may not be on the UN list but can be on the OFAC SDN list and the UK list. A Venezuelan operator may be caught by OFAC but not by the EU. For a chandler in Singapore or Dubai, the US list matters most because of dollar clearing. According to [The Maritime Executive](https://maritime-executive.com/article/sanctioned-russian-merchant-vessels-are-underway) (November 2026), sanctioned Russian-flagged vessels have been observed forming up in Baltiysk, which means more of them will appear at ports outside Russia as they move. Each one needs a fresh check against all four lists before you accept the order. The US has also widened its crackdown to service providers. In October 2026, the US Treasury sanctioned a law firm, shipping agents in Singapore and Dubai, and nine vessels accused of helping Iran move oil, according to [gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/u-s-sanctions-law-firm-shipping-agents-and-nine-vessels-in-iran-shadow-fleet-crackdown/) (October 2026). The same action was reported by [Seatrade Maritime News](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/regulations/us-sanctions-law-firm-shipping-agents-linked-to-iran-s-shadow-fleet) (October 2026). Agents and intermediaries are now in scope, not just shipowners. ## When a licence or waiver changes the answer A licence does not make a sanctioned party clean; it authorises a specific transaction under specific conditions. Venezuela is the clearest example. According to [Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/venezuelas-oil-trade-reopened-the-risk-moved-to-the-vessel/) (October 2026), the question for anyone screening Venezuelan cargoes is no longer only whether the vessel is on a list, but what the vessel is doing and what the evidence says. For a chandler, that means a licence on the cargo does not automatically cover the husbandry services or the bunker stem. Check the licence terms and keep the evidence file. ## Building a repeatable sanctions screening checklist A checklist that lives in a spreadsheet will not survive a busy week of port calls. Build it into the workflow you already use for quotes and orders. - Screen vessel, owner, manager, charterer and payer against all four lists before quoting. - Record the date, the list version and the result for each check. - Re-screen when the ETA changes, when the ownership changes, or when a new list designation appears. - Keep a written rationale for any decision to proceed despite a hit. - Train the person who answers the phone, not just the compliance officer. The [due-diligence work around sanctioned Russian vessels](https://vesselreach.si/blog/sanctioned-russian-vessels-supplier-due-diligence-work) shows how quickly a routine port call can turn into a compliance file. The [false flag registry sanctions guide](https://vesselreach.si/blog/false-flag-registry-sanctions-supplier-due-diligence) covers the reflagging tactic in more detail. ## How VesselReach helps VesselReach does not replace your sanctions screening, but it gives you the vessel and company picture earlier, so the checks happen before the ETA rather than after the order is confirmed. - **Vessel intelligence:** see vessels near your ports and scheduled arrivals, which means you can start the ownership and manager checks days [before the vessel berths](https://vesselreach.si/blog/port-calls-meaning-stages-parties-and-supplier-work). - **AI company targeting:** VesselReach identifies the company behind each vessel, including managers and operators, which means you screen the right entity rather than the name on the fixture. - **Decision-maker discovery:** find operations, procurement and fleet contacts by role, which means the compliance question reaches the person who can answer it. Book a VesselReach demo to see how the workflow fits your ports, with a 10-day free trial after the meeting. ## Key facts - According to Splash247, Adani Enterprises agreed in May 2026 to pay $275m after OFAC found that its pre-cargo screening of ships, operators and sellers had missed the real risk (May 2026). ([Splash247](https://splash247.com/shippings-275m-lesson-in-the-limits-of-sanctions-screening/)) - A 2025 paper in the HAPSc Policy Briefs Series argues that layered evasion tactics, including AIS manipulation, unclear ownership structures and document falsification, undermine fragmented compliance frameworks, and calls for a risk-based approach combining vessel identification, ownership analysis and continuous monitoring (December 2025). ([HAPSc Policy Briefs Series (National Documentation Centre)](https://doi.org/10.12681/hapscpbs.45358)) - A 2026 study in Dynamics of Politics and Democracy found that shadow fleet operations produce maritime opacity through reflagging, AIS manipulation, shell companies and uncertain insurance (July 2026). ([Dynamics of Politics and Democracy](https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v6.n1.p1-15.2026)) - According to gCaptain, the US Treasury sanctioned in October 2026 a law firm, shipping agents in Singapore and Dubai, and nine vessels accused of helping Iran move oil (October 2026). ([gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/u-s-sanctions-law-firm-shipping-agents-and-nine-vessels-in-iran-shadow-fleet-crackdown/)) - According to The Maritime Executive, sanctioned Russian-flagged vessels have been observed forming up in Baltiysk, which means more of them will appear at ports outside Russia as they move (November 2026). ([The Maritime Executive](https://maritime-executive.com/article/sanctioned-russian-merchant-vessels-are-underway)) ## Frequently asked questions ### Which sanctions lists should a ship chandler check before a port call? Screen the UN Security Council consolidated list, the EU consolidated list, the UK OFSI consolidated list and the US OFAC SDN list. Each binds different parties and transactions, so a clean result on one does not clear the others. ### Why is a clean name search not enough for sanctions compliance? Names can be clean while ownership or trading patterns remain opaque. In May 2026 Adani Enterprises agreed to pay $275m after OFAC found its pre-cargo screening had missed the real risk, according to Splash247. ([Splash247](https://splash247.com/shippings-275m-lesson-in-the-limits-of-sanctions-screening/)) ### How does the US OFAC SDN list reach a chandler outside the US? Any payment routed through a US bank, or any US person involved, brings the transaction into OFAC scope. That is why dollar clearing matters even when both parties are outside the US. ### What should a chandler do when a licence or waiver applies? A licence authorises a specific transaction under specific conditions; it does not make a sanctioned party clean. Check the licence terms and keep the evidence file, because a licence on the cargo may not cover husbandry services or the bunker stem. ([Hellenic Shipping News](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/venezuelas-oil-trade-reopened-the-risk-moved-to-the-vessel/)) ### Are shipping agents and intermediaries now in sanctions scope? Yes. In October 2026 the US Treasury sanctioned a law firm, shipping agents in Singapore and Dubai, and nine vessels accused of helping Iran move oil, according to gCaptain. Agents and intermediaries are now in scope, not just shipowners. ([gCaptain](https://gcaptain.com/u-s-sanctions-law-firm-shipping-agents-and-nine-vessels-in-iran-shadow-fleet-crackdown/)) ### How can maritime businesses act on sanctions risk before the vessel arrives? Start the ownership and manager checks days before the ETA. VesselReach shows vessels near your ports and scheduled arrivals, and identifies the company behind each vessel, so you screen the right entity before quoting. ## Sources 1. [Securing Energy Transportation at Sea: Sanctions, Maritime Risk, and Strategic Compliance](https://doi.org/10.12681/hapscpbs.45358), HAPSc Policy Briefs Series (National Documentation Centre), 2025-12-31 2. [Sanctions, Shadow Fleets, and the Erosion of Maritime Governance in Contemporary International Relations](https://doi.org/10.35912/dpd.v6.n1.p1-15.2026), Dynamics of Politics and Democracy, 2026-07-27 3. [Shipping’s $275m lesson in the limits of sanctions screening](https://splash247.com/shippings-275m-lesson-in-the-limits-of-sanctions-screening/), Splash247, 2026-10-28 4. [Sanctioned Russian Merchant Vessels Are Underway](https://maritime-executive.com/article/sanctioned-russian-merchant-vessels-are-underway), The Maritime Executive, 2026-11-06 5. [U.S. Sanctions Law Firm, Shipping Agents and Nine Vessels in Iran Shadow Fleet Crackdown](https://gcaptain.com/u-s-sanctions-law-firm-shipping-agents-and-nine-vessels-in-iran-shadow-fleet-crackdown/), gCaptain, 2026-10-21 6. [Venezuela’s oil trade reopened. The risk moved to the vessel](https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/venezuelas-oil-trade-reopened-the-risk-moved-to-the-vessel/), Hellenic Shipping News, 2026-10-21 7. [US sanctions law firm, shipping agents linked to Iran’s shadow fleet](https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/regulations/us-sanctions-law-firm-shipping-agents-linked-to-iran-s-shadow-fleet), Seatrade Maritime News, 2026-10-22 8. [US sanctions net widens to shipping agents and lawyers](https://splash247.com/us-sanctions-net-widens-to-shipping-agents-and-lawyers/), Splash247, 2026-10-22 ## More on this topic A sanctions screening checklist for a port call covers four lists: the UN Security Council consolidated list, the EU consolidated list, the UK OFSI consolidated list and the US OFAC SDN list. Each binds different parties, and a clean result on one does not clear the others. The Adani settlement in May 2026 showed that screening names alone is not enough when ownership is opaque. Check the vessel's IMO number, previous names, registered owner, technical manager, DOC holder, charterer and payment route before you confirm the order. VesselReach shows vessels near your ports and scheduled arrivals, and identifies the company behind each vessel, so you can start the checks before the ETA. Sanctions screening meaning, in practice, is checking a vessel, its owner and its payer against every list that binds you before you confirm an order. The four lists here are the UN, EU, UK OFSI and US OFAC SDN lists, and a clean result on one does not clear the others. For a ship chandler or port agent, the OFAC SDN list search matters most when payment clears through a US bank, because the dollar brings the transaction into scope. Screening tools help, but the Adani settlement reported by Splash247 in May 2026 shows a clean name search is not enough when ownership is opaque. Check the IMO number, previous names, DOC holder and payment route, and keep the evidence file. What does OFAC SDN list mean for a chandler? It is the US list with the widest reach, because a US-dollar payment brings the order into scope even when both parties sit outside the US. How do I document a sanctions screening decision? Record the date, the list version and the result for the vessel, owner, manager, charterer and payer, and write down why you proceeded despite any hit. A ship chandler can run that check before quoting, using VesselReach to see arrivals and the company behind each vessel days before the ETA. Four lists sit behind a port call: the UN Security Council consolidated list, the EU consolidated list, the UK OFSI consolidated list and the US OFAC SDN list. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation keeps the UK list, and it diverges from the EU list on Russian-linked ownership. The US OFAC SDN list reaches furthest because a US-dollar payment brings a bunker stem or chandlery order into scope, which matters for chandlers in Singapore and Dubai. The Adani Enterprises settlement reported by Splash247 in May 2026 showed that clean names did not satisfy OFAC when ownership was opaque. Sanctioned Russian-flagged tankers forming up in Baltiysk, reported by The Maritime Executive in November 2026, will reach ports outside Russia, so each arrival needs a fresh check. Related searches: sanctions screening meaning; ofac sdn list search; ofac sdn list meaning; ship chandler; ship chandlery; sanctions screening tools --- VesselReach, built by CatalystIQ. CatalystIQ Data Classification and Analysis Services, Al Qusais, Dubai, P.O. Box 129882, United Arab Emirates. info@catalystiq.ae, +971 58 599 7894. Book a demo: https://vesselreach.si/#demo. Pricing: contact us for a quote (https://vesselreach.si/pricing).