Small African and Pacific shipping flags are growing fastest, alongside the emergence of the “dark” fleet operating in areas that could be affected by international sanctions.
In Africa, Cameroon grew by 1m gt in 2022, increasing its registered fleet size by 41.5%. Gabon grew by 21.6% and Tanzania by 19.4%, according to broker Clarksons.
The Pacific microstate of Palau showed the most dramatic growth: its fleet rose by 54.4% to 1.2m gt.
Although the increases are based on relatively small fleet sizes, they still compare well with an overall world fleet growth of 2.9% last year.
Some of these flag states have found themselves embroiled in controversy related to sanctions.
The 46,200-dwt tanker Nobel (built 1997) was sold by Russian company Novograin Ltd in May last year, according to shipping databases, and switched flags to Cameroon on 1 July 2022.
Data analysis by Israeli firm Windward suggested the Nobel was later involved in dark ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations, including an attempt to manipulate satellite tracking systems in late 2022 to disguise its location.
The dark is rising
Dark activities by Cameroon-flagged tankers in the South Atlantic increased from seven events in 2021 to 315 in 2022, according to Windward’s analysis.
Ships flying mainstream flags have also been involved in dark or semi-dark operations. Windward found that ships registered in Malta, Panama and Liberia were the most involved in STS transfers in the Black Sea.
One of the most active buyers of secondhand tonnage this year — India’s Gatik Ship Management — has been favouring the flags of St Kitts & Nevis and Gabon.
The small flags have had issues complying with international conventions.
Cameroon, for example, is the lowest-ranking flag state on the Paris MOU on Port State Control regional performance table and is in the highest-risk category of flags on its blacklist.
Tanzania scored eight negative performance indicators out of 20 categories assessed under the International Chamber of Shipping’s latest flag state performance table.
In contrast, flags that have been a hub for Russian ship registration have experienced a dramatic loss of tonnage because of sanctions.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 15% to 20% of the tankers flying the Cyprus flag have departed the register.
