New Flag States Raise Sanctions Evasion Concerns

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has raised significant concerns about emerging flag states potentially being used to circumvent international sanctions, according to its latest Flag State Performance Table.

Four new flag states – Cambodia, Eswatini, Gabon, and Guinea-Bissau – have been added to the ICS monitoring system, reflecting a growing trend of vessels registering with smaller administrations. These additions come amid reports of shipping companies allegedly using these jurisdictions to bypass western sanctions on Russia and Iran, whose shadow fleets continue to grow. Of particula…