WILLEMSTAD – Two sanctioned oil tankers that appeared in international shipping records this year claiming Curaçao registration illustrate the continuing challenge facing the island as vessels linked to the international shadow fleet misuse its maritime identity.
The tankers Lan Jing and Belma both appeared as Curaçao-flagged vessels in international maritime information despite not having legitimate Curaçao registrations.
The Lan Jing surfaced in shipping records in March claiming Curaçao as its flag state. The tanker had previously been linked to the transportation of Iranian oil and had been placed under United States sanctions in 2024.
A similar case emerged in July involving the Belma. That tanker also presented itself as a Curaçao vessel despite its registration not having been issued by Curaçao. It was likewise under U.S. sanctions in connection with Iranian oil transportation.
The cases are particularly significant because Curaçao does maintain an official international ship register, unlike Aruba and Sint Maarten.
A legitimately registered Curaçao vessel receives the nationality of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and may fly the Kingdom flag. Registration and supervision are handled by the Maritime Authority of Curaçao.
However, information previously provided by the Dutch government showed that Curaçao's official register contained no oil tankers at the time. Consequently, tankers presenting Curaçao registration documents without appearing in the official register are operating with fraudulent documentation.
The problem extends well beyond the two vessels.
S&P Global maritime data from September 18 identified 22 ships worldwide that continue to falsely claim Curaçao registration. Another 20 falsely claim Aruba registration and 12 claim Sint Maarten, bringing the Kingdom-wide total to 54.
Earlier investigations found that fraudulent registrations associated with the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom were being used by vessels connected to Russian and Iranian shadow fleets. Such ships can repeatedly change names, ownership structures and claimed flags as they seek to continue operating despite sanctions or increased regulatory scrutiny.
Dutch authorities are now seeking stronger legal powers to intervene against ships operating without a valid flag.
A legislative amendment submitted to the Dutch Council of State for advice in July is intended to make it possible, under certain circumstances, to detain vessels without valid registration and order them to proceed to a port or anchorage for inspection.
For Curaçao, the problem goes beyond unauthorized use of a flag. The appearance of sanctioned vessels such as the Lan Jing and Belma under Curaçao's name risks creating the impression of a connection between the island and vessels over which Curaçao has neither registered nor authorized.
The latest figures indicate that the international misuse of Curaçao's maritime registration remains an active problem despite efforts to identify fraudulent vessels.