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EU-Sanctioned Tanker Uses Fraudulent Malawi Flag to Transit Suez Canal
What’s inside?
A high-risk tanker that was transmitting the fraudulent flag registry of Malawi transited the Suez Canal on July 18, in breach of the Suez Canal Authority’s rules of navigation.
Malawi is designated as a fraudulent registry by the International Maritime Organization, which lists the EU- and UK-sanctioned tanker Night Glory (IMO 9319674) as falsely flagged. This designation invalidates any insurance, safety, and seaworthiness certificates the vessel may hold, raising serious questions about how it secured transit approval from the Suez Canal Authority.
Aframax tanker Night Glory, transits the Suez Canal, on July 18 while falsely flying the Malawi flag. Source: Windward Maritime AI™ Platform
Under the Suez Canal Authority’s navigation rules, vessels are required to hold valid classification certificates issued by a recognized classification society.
The Rise of False Registries and Sanctioned Tankers
The emergence of hundreds of falsely flagged ships operating outside global maritime conventions and regulations is now one of the largest threats to the regulatory integrity of world trade.
The ships also pose growing legal and compliance risk for marine service providers, who risk exposure to regulatory breaches, uninsured liabilities, and potential enforcement action.
Windward’s Maritime AI™ Platform identified 21 vessels currently transmitting the false flag of Malawi. All but one are Russia-trading tankers sanctioned by the EU, US, or UK.
All falsely flagged ships operate outside global maritime rules and regulations and the jurisdiction of any state, undermining safety, security, and lawful trade, and expose counterparties to secondary sanctions or regulatory penalties.
Malawi is one of ten fraudulent registries currently used by dark fleet tankers transporting sanctioned oil. Other fraudulent registries include Aruba, Benin, Curaçao, Guinea, Guyana, Eswatini, Timor-Leste, and St Maarten.
Russia-trading Night Glory, formerly known as Eastern Glory, was sanctioned in May by Australia and EU, and by the UK in February, according to Windward’s Maritime AI™ Platform.
Growing Threat: Dark Fleet Operations Under Scrutiny
More tankers are now resorting to false flags after being sanctioned by Western authorities. Several open registries previously favored by Russia- and Iran-trading tankers, including Cook Islands, Gabon, Panama, and Barbados, have introduced policies to de-flag vessels once sanctions are imposed.
According to Windward’s Maritime AI™ Platform, more than 350 vessels are now transmitting fraudulent flags from these 10 registries. The number of falsely flagged ships has more than doubled in the past nine months as the EU and UK have intensified sanctions enforcement programs.
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