THE HAGUE – The Dutch government has responded to mounting concerns over reports that dozens of Russian tankers are sailing under false flags of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten to circumvent international sanctions. In a detailed parliamentary briefing dated 8 September 2025, Foreign Minister D.M. van Weel acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, stressing that sanction evasion by Russia remains a top priority for the Netherlands and the wider Kingdom.
The controversy stems from an investigation published by Follow the Money in July, which revealed that tankers tied to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” have been spotted using fraudulent Caribbean registrations. According to the Dutch response, Curaçao is the only one of the three islands that maintains a legitimate international shipping register, yet currently no Russian oil tankers are officially registered there. This means vessels flying Curaçaoan documents today are doing so fraudulently.
Reputation and Legal Risks
Minister van Weel admitted that the use of fraudulent flags undermines the credibility of the Kingdom, calling the practice “highly undesirable.” While stressing that the problem is not unique to the Kingdom, he emphasized that active measures taken by the Netherlands and Curaçao to expose and combat these schemes strengthen their international standing. Still, the presence of fake Curaçaoan, Aruban, or Sint Maarten flags on Russian-linked ships raises reputational risks and complicates enforcement of global sanctions.
Difficult to Trace and Control
One of the main challenges is that these so-called “shadow fleet” ships are deliberately elusive. Since Aruba and Sint Maarten have no international flag registers, any vessel sailing under their flags is automatically operating illegally under international maritime law. Fraudulent Curaçaoan documentation poses a similar problem. With these ships not properly registered, neither Curaçao nor the Kingdom can exercise normal oversight, making them “very difficult to trace and tackle,” the ministry explained. The number of such vessels is constantly changing, but estimates suggest “several dozen” are currently at sea.
International Cooperation
The Netherlands is working with European partners to clamp down on sanction evasion. Earlier this year, the country joined 13 other European governments in calling for coordinated action against Russia’s shadow fleet. At home, the Maritime Authority Curaçao and the Dutch Transport Inspectorate oversee registered vessels, while fraudulent cases are tackled through joint efforts of the Kingdom’s maritime administrations, the Caribbean Coast Guard, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Dutch government confirmed that the Coast Guard recently intercepted two vessels sailing under false Aruban flags that were already sanctioned by the EU. The ships were contacted, their documents requested, and they were escorted through part of the Kingdom’s Exclusive Economic Zone in August. Authorities are now preparing additional measures, including inspections of ships anchoring in Kingdom waters.
Pressure on Sint Maarten and Aruba
The lack of registers in Aruba and Sint Maarten creates a legal vacuum that criminals exploit. While the Netherlands says it will assist where possible, it stressed that it is ultimately up to the autonomous governments of these countries to act against vessels fraudulently sailing under their names. In the meantime, diplomatic efforts continue to alert foreign ports and international organizations such as the IMO that any vessel flying the Aruban or Sint Maarten flag is acting illegally.
Broader Concerns
Lawmakers also raised the issue of Western shipping companies selling aging tankers to shadowy buyers who later join Russia’s fleet. The Dutch government noted that within the EU, sellers of oil tankers are already required to report such sales, and information is shared among member states to monitor risks. Still, questions remain about whether additional oversight is needed.
