Accuity, the leading provider of payment routing data, anti-money laundering (AML) screening software and services, today announced the integration of maritime information from IHS Fairplay into its Global WatchList data.
This additional data will bolster Accuity's ability to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive coverage available for vessels associated with Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned countries.
IHS Fairplay maintains the largest maritime database in the world, with comprehensive characteristics of 180,000 ships and more than 200,000 maritime company records including ship owners, managers, operators and shipbuilders. By combining this specialised data with Accuity's industry-leading Global WatchList data customers can now screen for almost 2,000 vessels that can be linked to sanctioned countries-a much greater number than the 192 current vessel listings in the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.
The ability to identify transactions or shipments involving vessels associated with OFAC sanctioned countries allows extra scrutiny to be applied, which is critical as the vessel itself or its cargo may be blocked or prohibited. OFAC can fine or otherwise penalise a firm for not blocking a transaction with a vessel or facilitating a shipment containing cargo that falls under sanction program requirements, regardless of whether it has been publicly listed.
As a result of the partnership with IHS Fairplay, Accuity's Global WatchList now includes expanded vessel data such as current and past vessel names, International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers, ship operators, ship managers, registered owners, beneficial owners and more. Accuity's team of sanctions and high-risk data experts reformats the vessel data to ensure consistency and compatibility with customers' screening software. The OFAC Vessel Enhancement List can be used on its own or combined with other enhanced data such as the Airports and Seaports in Sanctioned Countries List to help users further identify blocked entities not contained in the OFAC SDN list.
"This relationship with IHS Fairplay further enhances our mission to ensure comprehensive screenning and effective identification of blocked vessels that fall under OFAC sanctions, regardless of whether they are specifically listed by OFAC," said Brent Newman, Managing Director of Accuity's product and data teams. "Accuity is committed to providing the right tools and the right data to help customers protect themselves from sanctions screening risk, whenever and wherever possible."