The UK leads a push by 21 other countries at the IMO to try to stem the phenomenon
A group of 22 countries, led by the UK, has submitted a paper to the IMO’s Legal Committee and suggests new guidelines could be key to helping poorer flag states deter fraudsters
Efforts of UK
The United Kingdom has promoted an effort at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to eliminate false flag vessels, in an attempt to stem a growing phenomenon.according to Shipping Italy
IMO’s legal committee
In a submission to the IMO’s legal committee, supported by 21 other countries, the UK said the number of ships flying a false flag has more than doubled in less than two years, reaching 223 in just 22 months. The phenomenon is hitting oil tankers and cargo ships the hardest.
Fraudulent vessel registers
That same database in March 2023 showed 110 vessels as false flagged, versus 223 as of January 9, 2025. That’s an increase of more than 100% in just 22 months.
“This clearly demonstrates that false vessel registration and fraudulent vessel registers – the document reads – have a negative impact in terms of maritime safety, security, environmental consequences and above all on the human element, in particular on seafarers on board fraudulently registered vessels”.
Phenomenon of ships a false flagged
The survey found that many flag states do not have sufficient resources, while the decision of some countries to outsource the administration of the flag would be one of the reasons that led to the increase in the phenomenon of ships flying a false flagged
Geopolitical situations
Some members of that group highlighted that so-called “under-resourced flag states” and “changing geopolitical situations” were the main reason flags were being targeted by fraudsters.
The paper said the increase in cases of fraudulent registration and fraudulent registries posed “a real threat to the reputation of the worldwide shipping community and flag states”.
Two shipping registers
The first signs of enforcement action came last year, when ahead of the Legal Committee meeting, the IMO Secretariat warned of two shipping registers it deemed fraudulent. The focus of criticism was on flags supposedly administered on behalf of Guyana and Eswatini.
