- 214 Ships Delisted in One Year Amid Tougher Flag Rules.
- Panama Responds to UANI Over Iran Oil Trade Accusations.
- One in Five Suspected Iran Oil Tankers Fly Panama’s Flag.
Panama’s Maritime Authority has announced that it has taken the significant step of removing over 650 vessels from its registry since 2019. This move is part of a larger initiative to align with U.S. sanctions and to tighten regulations for ships flying its flag, reports Reuters.
Swift Action to Enforce Sanctions
The authority shared that 214 vessels have been withdrawn just since last year, following the introduction of new measures designed to facilitate quicker responses to international sanctions. Once these ships are taken off the registry, they can no longer operate under Panama’s flag, which still boasts one of the largest registries in the world, with more than 8,500 vessels.
Response to UANI Criticism
This move comes in response to criticism from the non-governmental organisation United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI). The group had recently claimed that Panama had failed to take adequate action against sanctions violators and urged the country to: “Immediately cease facilitating Iran’s illicit oil trade” and “Withdraw its flag from all tankers carrying Iranian oil.”
According to UANI, nearly one in five vessels suspected of transporting Iranian oil sails under Panama’s flag. The organisation stated: “This is not just a failure of Panama’s registry. It’s a direct threat to global sanctions compliance and regional and U.S. security.”
International Collaboration and Enforcement Measures
Back in 2019, Panama teamed up with other key flag states like Liberia and the Marshall Islands to share information about vessels that had their registrations cancelled or rejected due to possible sanctions violations. On top of that, Panama started cracking down on ships that switch off their transponders to dodge tracking.
Crackdown on Dark Fleet Operations
In May, the authorities revealed plans to tighten controls on ship-to-ship operations involving Panama-flagged vessels. This decision came in response to a significant rise in the use of “dark-fleet” tankers, which are often used to skirt sanctions and environmental regulations.
U.S. Pressure on Registry Nations
The United States has ramped up its pressure on countries with large shipping registries to help enforce sanctions. Former U.S. President Donald Trump notably voiced his concerns about the expansion of the dark fleet and even hinted at taking control of the Panama Canal to ensure compliance.
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Source: Reuters
