Jakarta, Indonesia
20 November 2025
Maritime trade remains the backbone of the global economy—but it is also a critical channel for sanctions evasion. From covert ship-to-ship transfers to deceptive flagging and vessel identity concealment, illicit actors exploit the complexity of global shipping to move prohibited goods and finance restricted activities. These methods are constantly evolving, and the maritime industry can be vulnerable to these practices without effective compliance programs.
This workshop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, will:
- Provide an overview of maritime sanctions measures relevant for key stakeholders in the maritime industry
- Offer best practices for setting up an effective compliance program
- Improve knowledge of sanctions evasion methods in the maritime domain and the red flags compliance officers should be aware of
- Showcase investigative tools and techniques that can be utilized for effective due diligence
- Provide perspectives on OFAC authorities and best practices for compliance
- Engage participants in an interactive case study based on real examples of sanctions evasion, with a panel of maritime sanction experts
Draft Agenda
| Time | Session |
| 08:45 – 09:15 | Welcome and Registration |
| 09:15 – 09:50 | Maritime Sanctions: Implications for the Private Sector This session will provide an overview of applicable maritime sanctions and how they impact key stakeholders. |
| 09:50 – 10:00 | Coffee Break |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | OFAC 101 This session will explore how unilateral sanctions can impact third jurisdictions, and what can be done to minimize risk. |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Elements of a Compliance Program This session will discuss the building blocks of an effective compliance program. |
| 11:30 – 12:15 | Breakout Groups: Case Study In breakout groups, participants will work through a maritime sanctions evasion case study to identify illicit activity. |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Lunch |
| 13:15 – 14:15 | Maritime Sanctions Evasion Tactics This session will examine the specific strategies and tactics used to evade maritime sanctions. Using case studies, it will provide the knowledge and tools to spot and investigate sanctions evasion as part of a sanctions compliance program. |
| 14:15 – 14:30 | Coffee Break |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Due Diligence: Red Flags This session will cover “red flags” exhibited by vessels and companies involved in sanctions evasion activities. |
| 15:00 – 15:45 | Due Diligence: Investigative Tools & Techniques Due diligence tools and techniques that can be used to help uncover sanctions evasion. |
| 15:45 – 16:00 | Coffee Break |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Panel Discussion This session will explore a hypothetical scenario of maritime sanctions evasion, and the various considerations that might arise for the subsectors of the maritime industry. |
| 17:00 – 17:15 | Questions, Conclusions, Participant Evaluations |
The event will be conducted in English, but translation and interpretation will be provided.
A follow-up email confirming your registration and the location of the event will be provided closer to the day of the event.
