Source: Guyana Times
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned vessels that were fraudulently using the Guyana flag.
Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has clarified that the Syrian-owned oil tankers sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Treasury were not legitimately registered under the Guyana flag. This clarification follows reports that five oil tankers linked to a Syrian conglomerate in Iran and Syria, and also connected to Venezuela, had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury.
In a statement issued on Thursday, MARAD confirmed that “These ships are not registered in Guyana; therefore, they represent false and fraudulent registrations.” The statement explained that Guyana operates a closed registry, meaning that registration under the Guyana flag is restricted to vessels owned by Guyanese nationals, residents, citizens of Caribbean Community states (CARICOM), and corporate entities established under the laws of Guyana. MARAD confirmed that none of the owners of the five questioned oil tankers fall within these categories.
Since 2021, MARAD has noted an increase in instances of fraudulent registrations under the Guyana flag. The perpetrators of these frauds have targeted multiple countries, including Guyana, Panama, and several regional states. MARAD, along with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is actively sharing information regarding these fraudulent registrations with all United Nations member states, in addition to relevant regional and international maritime organisations.
“The sanctions being imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Western nations are part of the response to the threats posed by these false registrations,” the MARAD statement explained. They further emphasised that “the Government of Guyana makes it clear that there is no sinister plot to operate or establish a separate ship registry. Guyana does not, has not, and will not offer a flag of convenience for vessels, and is committed to upholding the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.”
Back in January 2022, a vessel claiming to be registered in Guyana was intercepted in Senegal while transporting three containers of ammunition worth over $5 million. The motor vessel, named EOLIKA, was detained in Dakar, and the crew was arrested after customs officials discovered the weapons. It was revealed that the registration under the Guyana flag had been issued by the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana (IMSAG), which falsely presented itself as a maritime service provider on behalf of Guyana.
However, the Government of Guyana quickly distanced itself from IMSAG, stating that while there had been an agreement between MARAD and IMSAG, it was terminated immediately upon discovering the fraudulent activities of these entities. The government emphasised that the fraudulent issuance of registration under the Guyana flag is a deliberate criminal act aimed at tarnishing the good reputation of Guyana, which the government has worked hard to restore and maintain.
Additionally, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has been collaborating with Interpol on this issue. Earlier this year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) identified two fraudulent shipping registries, one of which is managed by IMSAG. Reports indicate that in April 2024, the IMO warned that the IMSAG registry continues to operate, issuing fraudulent certificates of registration and authorising recognised organisations, despite the termination of the contract between MARAD and Aryavart Corporation, the parent company of IMSAG.