A Maltese shipping agent who was put on a US blacklist over his involvement with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) has been removed.

Adrian Baldacchino acted as legal and judicial representative for Maraner Holdings Ltd, which, in turn, was hit by the blacklist as a result of its shareholding in IRISL.

The shipping line, along with other Iranian interests in Malta and elsewhere, was affected by EU sanctions.

Mr Baldacchino was delisted as he severed all contact with IRISL in October 2011, around the same time as the EU’s sanction decision.

Four Maltese-registered shipping companies affected by the sanctions had taken their case to the European Court of Justice, with more cases opened by Iranian companies based in the UK, Germany, Singapore, South Korea and Iran.

The Maltese firms involved were Busherer Shipping Company Ltd; IRISL Malta Ltd; ISI Maritime Ltd and Marble Shipping Ltd.

Qormi-based Maraner Holdings Ltd had shareholdings in IRISL Malta.

The shipping companies had sought the partial annulment of the EU Council’s decision to impose restrictive measures against Iran on the basis that measures against them violate their right of defence and to effective judicial protection, among others.

Following months of deliberation, the 27 member states last October decided to ban all cargo handling by IRISL in EU territory as part of a new round of sanctions in response to Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Malta supported the decision even though the sanctions were expected to have a direct impact on business at Malta Freeport – IRISL traffic accounts to between five and 10 per cent of trans-shipment cargo turnover.

The sanctions only affected new contracts entered with IRISL from October. Existing contracts with the company would not be impacted.