Information Americas, New York, NY, December 30, 2024: 5 tankers just lately sanctioned by the USA as a part of a world oil smuggling community are falsely claiming to be registered in Guyana, in line with the nation’s Maritime Administration Division. The company referred to as the registrations “false and fraudulent” and emphasised that Guyana’s delivery registry is tightly regulated.
The vessels in query had been amongst 13 ships sanctioned by the U.S. Division of the Treasury’s Workplace of Overseas Property Management (OFAC) on November 14. These sanctions focused entities linked to Syria’s Al-Qatirji Firm, which is accused of facilitating the export of Iranian oil to Syria and East Asia, together with China, and utilizing the proceeds to fund Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Pressure. The U.S. additionally alleges the corporate is concerned in cash laundering by way of cities corresponding to Istanbul and Beirut.
Among the many sanctioned vessels, 4 crude oil tankers and one product tanker claimed Guyana as their flag state. Nonetheless, Guyana’s maritime authorities said unequivocally that not one of the vessels meet the factors to be registered beneath its flag. The nation’s closed registry is restricted to vessels owned by Guyanese nationals, Caribbean Group (CARICOM) residents, or firms established beneath Guyanese legislation.
The tankers in query are:
- Ramona I (164,445 dwt), in-built 2002, reportedly owned by an organization in Panama.
- Mia (149,686 dwt), in-built 1993, listed as owned and operated by a Seychelles-based firm.
- Lia (146,273 dwt), in-built 1996, reportedly traced to an organization within the Marshall Islands.
- Chloe (159,539 dwt), in-built 1999, with possession particulars unidentified.
- Baron (46,166 dwt), a product tanker in-built 1995 and managed by an organization in Lebanon however flagged as Daran in databases and listed beneath Iran.
Equasis, a global delivery database, flags the 4 crude oil tankers as utilizing false flags.
Guyana has been conscious of fraudulent ship registrations since 2021 and has repeatedly warned about these incidents. In Might 2024, the federal government recognized unauthorized teams inserting vessels on the registry with out correct authorization. Officers confirmed that perpetrators of those schemes have additionally focused nations like Panama and others within the area.
“The perpetrators of this fraud have focused a number of nations together with Guyana, Panama, and regional states,” stated the Maritime Administration Division, including that it has shared particulars with regional and worldwide maritime associations.
Guyana emphasised that it doesn’t function a flag of comfort and maintains a strict ship registry to guard its sovereignty and maritime integrity. Authorities proceed to take steps to stop unauthorized vessel registrations and safeguard the nation’s maritime popularity.
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