Info:
India-based Mehdi Group and its director, Ali Zaheer Mehdi, have managed vessels and found additional ones to move Iranian oil. Mehdi Group bears responsibility for crewing and managing at least seven of the vessels used by the network;
Mehdi Group officials, including Ali Zaheer Mehdi, have spread responsibility for managing the vessels across at least ten subsidiaries and shell companies;
India-based Mehdi Group subsidiaries Bushra Ship Management Private Limited and Khadija Ship Management Private Limited (Khadija), under director Ali Ghadeer Mehdi, handle the day-to-day operations of the network’s vessels. These vessels include the BONITA QUEEN, the DEVREZ, and the TOUR 2, which are being identified today as blocked property in which Khadija has an interest;
Other Mehdi Group officials work to ensure the vessels remain available for the network’s use. Anuj Bhardwaj arranges vessel inspections and registrations. Zafar Anis Ishteyaq Hussain tracks and processes millions of dollars in expenses incurred by the vessels;
A third Mehdi Group subsidiary, Vaniya Ship Management Private Limited, helped Mehdi Group set up three shell companies in the Marshall Islands. Under Ali Ghadeer Mehdi’s management, the shell companies purchased three crude oil tankers: the SARAK, the SOBAR, and the SOLAN. The SOBAR and the SOLAN previously appeared in an OFAC advisory to the maritime petroleum shipping community, which warned of the sanctions risks associated with shipments of petroleum to the Government of Syria. Both vessels, as well as the SARAK, are identified today as blocked property in which Mehdi Group has an interest. Notably, the SARAK falsified the Iranian origin of its cargo to port authorities;
Mehdi Group has two branch offices: Singapore-based Mehdi Offshore and Ship Management Pte. Ltd. (Mehdi Offshore) and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based Penta Ocean Ship Management & Operation LLC (Penta Ocean). Mehdi Offshore ostensibly provides various support services, while Penta Ocean and UAE-based Mehdi Group subsidiary Fourteen Star Shipping Management manages billing and payments. Mehdi Group also is able to draw on expertise in oil-related logistics, including refining and storage, through its UAE-based subsidiary Five Energy Oil Trading;
Mehdi Group found a partner outside of the company to supplement its efforts to assist the IRGC-QF. Lebanon-based Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL assists in, sponsors, or provides financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Mehdi Group subsidiary Vaniya Ship Management by operating the tanker JASMINE for the network. The JASMINE also is being identified today pursuant to E.O. 13224 as blocked property in which Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL has an interest;
Also Known As:
Mehdi Bros Ship Serv. PVT. LTD.
Mehdi Bros Ship Services PVT Ltd
Mehdi Bros. Ship Services Private Limited
Mehdi Brothers Ship Services PVT. Ltd.
Mehdi Shipping Limited
Registration Number:
U74999MH1999PTC119358 (India)
Country:
India
Address:
511, 5th Floor, Samarth Aishwarya Off K.L. Walawakar road, Oshiwara, Andheri [w], Mumbai 400053, India
102, Mohid Height, Suresh Nagar, Four Bungalow RTO, Andheri (West), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053, India
Off No 511, B Wing, Mumbai City 400053, India
Phone:
91-22 26377600
Website:
www.mehdishipping.net
www.mehdishipping.com
E-mail:
info@mehdishipping.net
Partners:
Africo 1 Off-Shore SAL
Subsidiaries:
Bushra Ship Management Private Limited
Khadija Ship Management Private Limited (Khadija)
Vaniya Ship Management Private Limited
Mehdi Offshore and Ship Management Pte. Ltd. (Mehdi Offshore)
Penta Ocean Ship Management & Operation LLC (Penta Ocean)
Vessels controlled by Mehdi Group – added to OFAC’s SDN List:
SARAK (f.k.a. RISE DESTINY) Crude Oil Tanker Iran flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9226968 (vessel)
SOBAR (f.k.a. RISE DIGNITY) Crude Oil Tanker Iran flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9221970 (vessel)
SOLAN (f.k.a. RISE GLORY) Crude Oil Tanker Iran flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9155808 (vessel)
TOUR 2 Crude Oil Tanker Panama flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9364112 (vessel)
BONITA QUEEN (f.k.a. KAMILA) Crude Oil Tanker St. Kitts & Nevis flag; Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9105906 (vessel)
Person of interests:
Ali Zaheer Mehdi
Anuj Bhardwaj
Zafar Anis Ishteyaq Hussain
Reason for the color:
» Added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on September 4, 2019 pursuant to Executive Order 13224 for assisting in, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, Rostam Qasemi;
» Map of designated network;