Senat Shipping failed to respond to UN inquiries leading to its blacklisting
Singapore: Singapore’s Senat Shipping and Trading, the US Treasury blacklisted line, failed to answer requests for information for 10 months, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The company was hit for its alleged links with North Korea on Thursday, something it has since disputed.
Senat Shipping and Trading had been accused of ties with North Korean firm Ocean Maritime Management Company (OMMC), which in 2013 had a ship seized by Panamanian authorities for carrying undeclared military equipment from Cuba.
“Singapore takes a serious view of our obligations to prevent the illicit trafficking of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), their means of delivery and related materials,” said a spokesman for the ministry on Saturday.
“While we do not implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries, we are bound by United Nations Security Council resolutions, including those on the DPRK.”
Senat Shipping has denied any wrongdoing saying: “Neither the company, nor its directors and shareholders have ever attempted to conceal their long standing business links with North Korea in relation to the chartering of vessels to operator on the international spot market.
“There is no suggestion this legitimate business activity contravenes any of the UN sanctions against North Korea.”