The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken the unprecedented step of banning Varun controlled ships from calling in its waters.

The UAE’s Federal Transport Authority says the move was due to Varun’s “repeated cases of seafarer abandonment” in recent years at UAE ports.

“All ships belonging to the subject company are banned from calling at UAE ports or anchoring in UAE waters till further notice,” the FTA said in a circular seen by TradeWinds.