- St. Maarten has identified and condemned the issuance of fraudulent maritime credentials and vessel registration documents falsely bearing its name.
- A joint investigation involving the Netherlands, CMOU, IMO, and U.S. authorities confirmed unauthorized entities operating deceptive websites.
- The government reaffirmed that it does not issue international maritime documents and maintains a strict zero-tolerance stance on maritime fraud.
The Government of Country St. Maarten has publicly addressed a serious and ongoing issue involving the unauthorized issuance of seafarer credentials and vessel registration documents falsely claiming to be authorized by St. Maarten. The matter gained attention on 22 September 2020 when an Indian seafarer reported difficulties in verifying the legitimacy of his certification. This led to an immediate internal investigation by the Maritime Affairs office, which quickly escalated to the Government of the Netherlands, according to safety4sea.
International Collaboration and Investigation
Following the Netherlands’ advice, St. Maarten reached out to the Caribbean Memorandum of Understanding (CMOU) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for support. These international bodies, particularly the CMOU and IMO’s Caribbean regional representatives, were instrumental in circulating alerts to MOU member states and flag states globally about the emerging fraudulent activities.
Exposure of Fraudulent Entities and Public Clarification
The investigation revealed that fake maritime certificates were being distributed through websites like msta-registry.com and ims-registry.org/vessel-registration, both of which falsely claimed affiliation with St. Maarten. In cooperation with the Kingdom Maritime Administration, a formal declaration was prepared and shared through the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS). This clarified that St. Maarten does not operate an international flag registry and does not issue any STCW Certificates of Competency, Seafarer Books, Ship Certificates, or related documents for conventional vessels.
Escalation and Further Action by the Netherlands and U.S. Authorities
The Netherlands took the matter further by engaging with U.S. intelligence agencies. A virtual meeting followed, during which U.S. authorities confirmed that the fraudulent registry known as the MSTA had links to St. Maarten, Belize, and California. The coordinated investigation provided stronger evidence of the widespread nature of the fraud.
Reaffirmation of St. Maarten’s Position and Commitment to Integrity
In coordination with the Netherlands, St. Maarten submitted an official fraud notification to the IMO. The statement reaffirmed that St. Maarten, while an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, does not authorize any external parties—including individuals, companies, classification societies, or third countries—to issue maritime credentials on its behalf. All documents claiming origin from or authorization by St. Maarten are considered fraudulent unless issued directly by its competent maritime authority.
Minister’s Call to Action and Zero-Tolerance Policy
Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, emphasized the Ministry’s regret over the harm caused to seafarers misled by these fraudulent activities. She confirmed that the government remains committed to international cooperation and legal measures to combat maritime fraud. Reinforcing a zero-tolerance policy, the Ministry urged seafarers, shipping companies, and maritime stakeholders to verify all credentials through official channels. The statement closed with a firm declaration: St. Maarten’s integrity is not for sale, and its flag will not be misused.
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Source: safety4sea
