Guyana denies link to seized tanker, says vessel fraudulently flying its flag
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) says an oil tanker seized by United States forces in the Indian Ocean is not registered in Guyana and has been falsely using the country’s flag.
The vessel, identified as Majestic X, was intercepted for allegedly transporting Iranian oil.
Authorities said the tanker had previously been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 under the name PHONIX for smuggling Iranian crude in violation of sanctions.
MARAD said there is no record of the vessel in Guyana’s shipping registry, noting that while the ship’s name has changed, its International Maritime Organization (IMO) number remains listed under PHONIX in international databases.
“This ship is not registered in Guyana; therefore, the registration is false and fraudulent,” MARAD said, adding that the vessel is illegally flying the Guyana flag.
The department reiterated that Guyana operates a closed registry system, under which vessels can only be registered if owned by Guyanese nationals, residents, citizens of Caribbean Community (Caricom) states, or companies established under Guyanese law. It said the purported owners of the tanker do not meet these requirements.
MARAD noted that cases of false vessel registration have been identified since 2021, with fraudsters targeting multiple jurisdictions, including Guyana, Panama and other regional states.
The International Maritime Organization maintains a list of vessels found to be fraudulently flying member state flags.
The agency said it continues to share information on such cases with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations maritime states and regional and international partners.
It added that sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries are partly aimed at addressing risks associated with fraudulent vessel registrations.
MARAD also cautioned against the spread of unverified reports, warning that some media outlets have circulated inaccurate claims regarding the integrity of Guyana’s ship registry.
