US sanctions 10 ships

The US Treasury Department applied sanctions against 10 ships and the network of Turkish shipowner Milenyum Energy in its efforts to target the support network for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (Ofac) announced sanctions against seven ships controlled by Milenyum, which is accused of operating on behalf of the already blacklisted Abdulkarim Group and of providing support to the Syrian government. "Treasury will continue to employ its robust financial tools to weaken Assad’s support network," said Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin. "These targeted sanctions intensify the economic and financial pressure on the Syrian government to cease its campaign of violence against its people."
The targeted Milenyum-linked ships include six LPG carriers: the 4,490-cbm Tala (built 1982), 5,650-cbm Blue Dream (built 1981), 4,040-cbm Blue Way (built 1989), 2,620-cbm Bluegas (built 1981), 4,420-cbm Blue Light (built 1990) and 2,760-cbm Mariana (built 1982).
Also blacklisted is the 3,120-dwt general cargoship MV Aqua (built 1975), which Ofac says is owned by a Milenyum front.

Panama-registered Milenyum was also among several Abdulkarim-linked companies added to Ofac's list of sanctioned entities added to the list Monday. They are Syria's The Eagles, Dubai-based Morgan Additives Manufacturing, Blue Energy Trade, Ebla Trade Services, shipping companies Green Shipping and Aqua Shipping.
The US government also added four Turkish individuals: Milenyum director Ufuk Kenar, managers Erkan and Serkan Duzgoren, and Mustafa Aydin, who allegedly arranged a suspect gasoil shipment.
Ofac also announced sanctions against three vessels controlled by the Syrian government: the 18,900-dwt bulker MV Finikia (built 2009), the 12,700-dwt general cargoships MV Laodicea (built 2005) and MV Souria (built 2004). And the US slapped sanctions on the General Directorate of Syrian Ports, Lattakia Port General Company, Tartous Port General Co, Syrian General Authority for Maritime Transport, Syrian Shipping Agencies and the Syrian Chamber of Shipping.