Guyana urges Caribbean cooperation to combat ‘dark fleet’ operations
Key Points(5)
- Guyana has called on Caribbean countries to work together to end “dark fleet” operations, warning that vessels fraudulently flying national flags are being used to move guns, sanctioned oil and smuggled people.
- Falmouth deputy mayor hails Wakefield’s rising athletic stars News, Western Falmouth deputy mayor hails Wakefield’s rising athletic stars October 26, 2026 He told the more than 450 maritime stakeholders, policymakers, senior executives, and industry experts that Guyana has been one of its victims.
- “It is a curse on the shipping industry.
- It is a black stain on maritime authorities,” he said, adding that criminal operators issue fake registrations so vessels can sail under the flags of countries where they aren’t registered.
- What is for sale, the house or agent?
Guyana is calling on Caribbean countries to strengthen cooperation against so-called dark fleet operations, warning that vessels fraudulently flying national flags are being used to transport weapons, sanctioned oil and smuggled people.
Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar raised the issue at the Caribbean Shipping Association’s 56th annual general meeting, conference and exhibition, telling more than 450 maritime stakeholders, policymakers and industry executives that Guyana had been among the countries affected.
Indar said he had witnessed the problem firsthand alongside Stephen Thomas, director general of Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
“It is a curse on the shipping industry. It is a black stain on maritime authorities,” Indar said, describing how criminal operators use fraudulent registrations to allow vessels to sail under the flags of countries where they are not registered.
The practice can damage the reputations of countries whose flags are misused, while creating risks for shipping companies, insurers and maritime authorities.
“When your ship flag is used for nefarious activities, moving things, guns, sanctioned oil, sanctioned products, people smuggling, those are not things that any nation would like to have (associated with) their name or their flag,” he said.
To illustrate the extent of the problem, Indar described an operator who registered vessels under a purported flag state based on a tiny, uninhabited island in the South Pacific.
He urged Caribbean governments to coordinate their efforts, warning that individual countries would struggle to eliminate fraudulent ship registrations on their own.
“If we don’t work together, (we) simply can’t stamp it out,” Indar said.
Guyana operates a closed ship registry, restricting registration under its flag to vessels owned by Guyanese nationals, residents, Caribbean Community (Caricom) citizens and companies established under Guyanese law.
MARAD has reported identifying cases of vessels falsely claiming Guyanese registration since 2021. The department also shares information about fraudulent registrations with maritime states and international organizations.
In April 2026, US forces seized the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean over its transportation of Iranian oil while it was allegedly fraudulently flying Guyana’s flag. The vessel had been sanctioned in 2024 under the name Phonix.
The Caribbean Shipping Association’s conference is being held under the theme “Building a More Connected, Resilient and Competitive Caribbean.”
