Enhanced KYC/KYB & UBO Verification

Unmasking Control in Opaque Jurisdictions through Multi-Source Link Analysis.

In the high-friction trade of 2026, the "Registered Owner" on a ship's certificate is rarely the person in control. To protect our clients from the reach of the OFAC 50% Rule and the EU 20th Sanctions Package, SanctionedShipping.com employs an "Enhanced Due Diligence" (EDD) framework that treats ownership as a network, not a name.

1. Beyond the 25% Threshold: The 2026 Standard

While standard KYB (Know Your Business) often stops at a 25% ownership stake, our Vessel Sanctions Compliance Procedure (VSCP) recognizes that control is the true vector of risk.

  • The "Network" Risk: We screen for "Sanctioned Beneficial Ownership" (SBO), where an entity is not explicitly named on a list but is controlled by a person who is.

  • The 50% Rule: We perform recursive math on nested corporate layers to ensure the aggregate ownership of "Blocked Persons" does not trigger a sanctionable event under US or EU law.

2. Our "Deep-Dive" Verification Pillars

We don't just collect passports; we verify the commercial logic of the entity.

I. Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) Forensic Trace

We pull data from over 120,000 vessels and 100,000 companies to map the "Seven Levels of Ownership."

  • Shell Company Detection: We flag "Special Purpose Vehicles" (SPVs) created in low-transparency jurisdictions (e.g., Marshall Islands, Liberia, Panama) within 6 months of a voyage.

  • Nominee Identification: We distinguish between legitimate legal nominees and "Straw Men" used to hide the involvement of sanctioned Russian, Iranian, or Venezuelan interests.

II. KYV™ (Know Your Vessel) Behavioral Audit

Identity can be forged, but behavior cannot. Our KYV process includes:

  • MMSI/IMO "Zombie" Checks: Ensuring a vessel isn't using the identity of a scrapped or "clean" ship to mask its presence.

  • Flag-Hopping Analysis: Rapid changes in flag registries (e.g., switching from Guyana to Russia mid-voyage) are treated as an immediate disqualifier.

III. Visual Link Analysis

Using AI-driven graph databases, we visualize the connections between the ship owner, the technical manager, the ISM provider, and the bunkering company. If any node in this network has a "High-Risk Scoring" (e.g., involvement in "Dark STS" transfers), the entire fixture is flagged for manual review.

3. The 2026 Compliance Dashboard

For every fixture, we generate a UBO Transparency Report that includes: | Checkpoint | Requirement | SanctionedShipping.com Method | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | UBO Identity | Verified Natural Person | Cross-check against PEP/Adverse Media/Sanctions Lists | | Control Check | Power to appoint board members | Review of Articles of Association & Voting Rights | | Financial Path | Non-sanctioned bank routing | Pre-verification of Intermediary & Correspondent Banks | | Vessel History | No "Dark Fleet" associations | 24-month AIS Forensic Gap Analysis |

4. Why This Matters to Your Bank

Banks in 2026 are risk-averse. They will block payments for humanitarian trade simply because the destination is "high-risk." Our UBO reports provide the "Safety Story" your bank needs. By presenting a proactive, documented audit of the shipowner's entire network, we reduce payment delays and prevent the "De-Risking" that often kills complex trades.

Request a Counterparty Audit

Before you sign a Charter Party, let our compliance desk run a "Link Analysis" on the owner. Don't find out about a sanctionable connection when your cargo is already mid-ocean.

Contact the Compliance Desk: Email: info@sanctionedshipping.com Subject: UBO Verification Request – [Vessel/Company Name]