WILLEMSTAD – A controversy has emerged over reports that a tanker allegedly sailing under the Curaçao flag was disabled by the United States military in the Strait of Hormuz after ignoring warnings related to a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
According to reports based on information from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the vessel, identified as the oil tanker M/T Belma, was an unladen tanker heading toward Iran’s strategic Kharg Island. CENTCOM stated that the ship ignored repeated warnings and that a U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel by firing Hellfire missiles, preventing it from continuing toward Iran.
However, Curaçao authorities have questioned whether the vessel was legally registered under the Curaçao flag.
The Curaçao Maritime Authority stated that Curaçao currently does not have oil tankers registered under its flag. According to the authority, the incident appears to involve a so-called “dark fleet” vessel — ships that use false, misleading or unauthorized registrations and flags to avoid international sanctions and maritime controls.
The authority emphasized that there are currently no indications that a legally registered Curaçao vessel was involved in the incident.
Possible false flag registration
The issue highlights a broader problem in international maritime transport, where some vessels attempt to conceal their ownership, registration or activities by using fraudulent flag identities.
According to maritime authorities, ship registration and flag status are legally significant because the flag state is responsible for oversight, safety compliance and regulatory control of vessels.
Curaçao’s Maritime Authority stressed that matters concerning ship nationality, flag registration and international maritime legal relations are handled within the framework of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Any investigation into possible misuse of Curaçao’s name or registration system would therefore fall under the appropriate Kingdom authorities.
Regional tensions
The incident comes amid heightened tensions surrounding shipping routes near Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important maritime passages, with a significant portion of global energy shipments passing through the area.
CENTCOM has previously announced several operations against commercial vessels that it said violated U.S. blockade measures targeting maritime traffic connected to Iranian ports. In previous cases, the U.S. military reported disabling vessels from different flag states after crews allegedly ignored warnings.
Curaçao urges verification
The Curaçao Maritime Authority has called on media organizations and the public to carefully verify information before associating Curaçao with international maritime incidents.
The authority reiterated that a ship claiming to sail under a Curaçao flag does not automatically mean that the vessel is officially registered in Curaçao.
The investigation into the vessel’s true registration status and the circumstances surrounding the incident remains with the relevant international authorities.