The quick action to clamp down on oil shipments to North Korea was followed by an equally swift response from flag states and protection-and-indemnity clubs to cut ties with any ship implicated in the trade.

The move comes as third-party service providers face more potential legal risk in dealing with ships, owners or charterers doing business with North Korea.

The Panama Maritime Authority said last week that it will cancel the registration of the 27,377-dwt bulker Orient Shenyu (built 2009) and the 8,008-dwt product tanker Koti (built 2008).