The Shadow Fleet: A Growing Concern for Global Authorities

In the latest data compiled by Clarksons Research’s World Fleet Monitor, a number of flag states have emerged as significant players in the rapid growth of the shadow fleet. San Marino, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Comoro Islands, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea have all seen extraordinary fleet growth in the past year, raising concerns among authorities in the West.

San Marino’s fleet has grown by a staggering 663% to 1.1m gt, prompting questions within European circles. Similarly, Guyana’s fleet has seen a 576% increase to 3.3m gt, with an average age of over 40 years.

Flag states in Africa have also experienced substantial growth in line with the shadow fleet’s expansion. Sierra Leone, the Comoro Islands, Guinea Bissau, and Guinea have all witnessed significant increases in their fleet sizes, with Guinea’s flag state growing by an astonishing 99,094% in the past year.

Barbados, another flag state with shadow fleet links, has seen its fleet grow by 177% in the same period. The London-headquartered Barbados ship registry has taken action against 46 ships to remove the country’s flag due to UK sanctions.

The proliferation of sanctioned vessels has raised concerns about the environmental risks posed by the shadow fleet. Over 1,000 vessels have been hit by sanctions, with more than 800 lacking confirmed insurance. The average age of sanctioned ships is 21 years, significantly older than the global average.

Despite efforts to crack down on the shadow fleet, it continues to grow, with around 10 tankers being added each month. Vintage tankers carrying Iranian, Venezuelan, or Russian cargoes accounted for nearly two-thirds of shipments last year.

Global insurer Allianz’s 2024 shipping report highlighted the increasing number of tanker incidents linked to the shadow fleet. Groundings and collisions have raised concerns about potential environmental disasters.

In response, the UK and several north European countries have joined forces to challenge the insurance coverage of vessels transiting the Baltic and English Channel. This initiative aims to reduce Russia’s reliance on shadow tankers for oil exports.

With ongoing efforts to combat the shadow fleet, including proposed insurance verification programs in key transit areas, global authorities are working to mitigate the risks associated with these unregulated vessels.