SHIPLOAD Maritime became the first shipping firm in Singapore to be penalised by the US for assisting with Iran-related oil transfers at sea, reported Singapore's Straits Times.

Shipload Maritime was sanctioned for using the tug boat Malili to facilitate the ship-to-ship transfer between Sobar, an Iranian-flagged tanker, and Star Forest on December 25 near Nipa in Indonesia.

Shipload Maritime was sanctioned because it " knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the transport of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran" , according to a statement from the US Department of State on March 13. The punishment relates to a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer in December 2024 near Indonesia.

The Trump administration has vowed " maximum pressure" on Iran to disrupt the flow of its oil, which the White House says generates revenue that supports Tehran-backed militia groups such as Hamas.

Rounds of US sanctions on the OPEC producer have caused logistical challenges and slowed exports to China, forcing traders to engage in risky efforts to circumvent the measures.

Shipload Maritime was sanctioned for using the tug boat Malili to facilitate the STS transfer between Sobar, an Iranian-flagged tanker, and Star Forest on December 25, 2024, near Nipa in Indonesia, according to the statement. The Singapore-based company is the commercial manager and operator of Malili, it said.