[260611.EN.SEA] CMA CGM Refuses Iran Boycott, But Opens Compliance Desk To Enhance Security

MARSEILLES' CMA CGM has establishing an Iran compliance desk after being implicated in a case of falsified documents that concealed a weapons shipment, in which it says it was blameless.

US congressmen called for sanctions against CMA CGM unless it boycotted Iranian ports. Asked for a response, the French shipping giant told American Shipper said it was setting up a compliance desk instead.

The desk is part of a larger operation to orchestrate security measures and regulatory requirements rising from both individual countries and international bodies, reported American Shipper. The company said it will set up a new security and regulations section on its website and will also focus on Libya and the Ivory Coast.

"In this way, CMA CGM customers and prospects, as well as outside observers, can now easily find, clearly and transparently, the main regulations governing shipments to and from Ivory Coast, Libya and Iran," the carrier said.

On March 15, Israeli commandos raided CMA CGM's 1,678-TEU Victoria, bound for Alexandria and found aboard weapons for Iran. CMA CGM said the container involved had been falsely labelled as lentils by the shipper, adding that it had no power to check contents of containers as that was the exclusive jurisdiction of state agencies.

CMA CGM said its new Iran compliance desk would verify the identity of the parties in the transport contract, verify the legality of cargo, obtain letters of indemnity from shippers and inspect cargo loaded in Iran as well as ensure container traceability.

Source : HKSG, 24.06.11.