TradeSense Episode 7 | False Flags, Stateless Ships & the Legal Blindspots

Fraudulent vessel registrations are fueling a growing network of stateless ships – vessels that evade oversight, carry forged documents, and operate in legal grey zones.

In this episode of TradeSense, Professor George Theocharidis of the World Maritime University, co-author of the IMO’s landmark report on fraudulent flag registries, joins Windward’s Michelle Wiese Bockmann for an insights-packed discussion.

Their conversation clarifies what qualifies as a “false flag” vessel, the scale of the issue, and why international law is struggling to keep up. From loopholes and legal definitions to jurisdictional blind spots, this episode explores the hidden enforcement challenges and what it might take to trigger meaningful change.

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