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Iranian paint party spotted, tankers change identity

AIS data has revealed that the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) has started to change its vessels' identity. This change in identity has been a regular practice since the start of sanctions in 2012, and includes new names, MMSI numbers and call signs for the majority of its crude. Until early 2014 this practice took place every six months or so. Initially this was thought to be driven mostly by the requirement to move flags as the original states were unwilling or unable to host them, however the practice continued after the majority of vessels declared themselves on AIS to be flagged in Zanzibar in late 2012. In early 2014 the expected next round of changes did not take place possibly as a result of the interim agreement on the easing of sanctions and it appeared the policy had ceased. Now in August 2014 six months later the fleet has suddenly started to change the identities once again. The screenshot shows the Khark Island Anchorage where the majority of vessels are usually renamed. Of interest are the following crude oil tankers all of which have been renamed in the last couple of days: Huge (ex Hantams), Dune (ex Dusk) , Serena (Ex Salaleh), Sana (ex Success) and most interesting the Dino (ex Discovery) temporarily showing as two ships having been caught on AIS in the middle of her identity change. Four other vessels have already changed names and other are expected to do so in the next few weeks. Source : ihsmaritime360