Russian Maritime Register of Shipping

"A Russian firm has decided to stop verifying safety and environmental standards for one of Iran's biggest shipping groups, a letter showed, the latest international company wary of being caught up in Western sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Iran is under growing pressure over its disputed nuclear program and companies are cutting ties with its vital shipping sector, which transports most of its crude oil, for fear of losing lucrative U.S. business. Moscow opposes concerted trade pressure on Tehran by Washington and its allies, making the Russian company's decision unusual. A letter seen by Reuters showed St. Petersburg-based Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), among the top 13 global ship classification societies, had decided to suspend its activities in Iran after being urged to pull out by U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). A targeted campaign by UANI, which includes former U.S. ambassadors on its board and is funded by private donations, has already led to other classification societies exiting Iran. Without certification from classification societies, vessels are unable to secure insurance cover or call at most international ports. 'The decision has been taken to suspend RS activities in Iran,' its chief executive Mikhail Ayvazov wrote in a letter to UANI dated August 31" (Reuters, "Exclusive: Russian firm to halt Iran ship work as pressure grows," 9/5/12) (http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/05/us-russia-iran-shipping-idUSBRE88419O20120905)

The Islamic Republic of Iran has delegated the authority to survey vessels, to confirm compliance with international conventions and to issue corresponding certificates to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS), RS advertising department reports.  (Information Agency, PortNews. “Iran authorizes Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping for vessel survey,” 6/23/2009) (http://en.portnews.ru/news/17297/)

Russia's maritime classification society