Tankers Sanctioned by U.S. are Part of a False Flag Operation Says Guyana
Guyana Denounces Fraudulent Tanker Registrations
The Maritime Administration Department of Guyana has recently made a significant announcement regarding five tankers that have been sanctioned by the United States. The government claims these vessels are operating under “false and fraudulent registrations.” This declaration comes in the wake of sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which targeted a network linked to a Syrian company accused of facilitating oil sales for Iran. Guyana’s authorities are taking this matter seriously, alerting maritime organizations and emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of their national registry.
U.S. Sanctions and Guyana’s Response
On November 14, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned 26 entities, including companies and vessels, connected to the Al-Qatirji Company. This Syrian firm is alleged to have generated substantial revenue for Iran through oil exports to Syria and China. Among the sanctioned vessels, five were reportedly registered in Guyana. However, the Maritime Administration Department quickly refuted these claims, stating, “These ships are not registered in Guyana.” They emphasized that the registrations are fraudulent and do not comply with the country’s regulations.
Guyana operates a closed registry system, which means only ships owned by Guyanese nationals, residents, or corporations established under its laws can be registered. The government confirmed that none of the five tankers in question meet these criteria. The U.S. has linked these vessels to the Al-Qatirji Company, which is accused of exporting millions of barrels of Iranian oil and financing Iran’s military operations. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by countries like Guyana in combating maritime fraud and protecting their national interests.
Details of the Fraudulent Tankers
The five tankers identified by the U.S. include four aging crude oil tankers and one product tanker. Notably, the crude oil tanker Ramona I, built in 2002, is reportedly owned by a company registered in Panama. Another tanker, Mia, built in 1993, is linked to a company based in the Seychelles. The third tanker, Lia, built in 1996, has ties to a company in the Marshall Islands, while the ownership of the fourth tanker, Chloe, built in 1999, remains unidentified. The product tanker, Baron, built in 1995, is managed by a Lebanese company but is listed in databases as Daran and registered in Iran.
Guyana’s authorities have been aware of fraudulent registrations since 2021 and have previously issued warnings about unauthorized groups placing ships in their registry. The Maritime Administration Department has stated that these perpetrators target multiple countries, including Guyana and Panama. They are actively sharing information about these fraudulent registrations with regional and international maritime organizations to combat this issue. The government of Guyana is committed to protecting its sovereignty and maintaining the integrity of its maritime registry, asserting that it does not offer flags of convenience to foreign vessels.
