National Tanker Company Receives 2 Int'l Certificates

The National Iranian Tanker Company has been accredited with a pair of certificates from DNV GL, an international quality assurance and risk management company, NITC said in a statement on Monday.

The oil shipping company has been awarded two certificates by Oslo-based DNV GL: "ISO 9001:2015" for quality management system and "ISO 14001:2015" for meeting the requirements of an environmental management standard.

DNV GL is a provider of classification, technical assurance and advisory services to maritime, oil, gas, power and renewables industries based in Oslo.

According to the statement, DNV GL had already issued a Document of Compliance for NITC.

The document is issued to every company that complies with the requirements of the International Safety Management Code–a standard for the safe operation of ships and for pollution prevention. NITC tankers faced restrictions navigating international waters under sanctions imposed over Tehran's nuclear program in 2011 and 2012.

But the lifting of sanctions in January 2016 gave fresh impetus to Iranian crude oil shipment as classification companies, including Lloyd’s Register and the Asian Classification Society, started to issue NITC-owned tankers with safety and environmental standards necessary to get access to most ports.

Sirous Kianersi, chief executive officer of NITC, said in an interview in July that issues pertaining to insurance, classification, flag requirements and certifications for Iranian tankers were "a thing of the past".

Under restrictions imposed over the nuclear dispute, NITC-owned tankers were not allowed to sail to Europe. According to reports, Iran had to change the flag and the names of its tankers to avoid EU restrictions.

NITC operates one of the world's largest tanker fleet ahead of regional rival Saudi Arabia as well as Qatar, Oman and the UAE. It has 42 very large crude carriers, nine Suezmaxes, five Aframaxes and several other ships, with the fleet’s average age at around 8.5 years.