Over 50% of sanctioned vessels sail under false flags

Flag-hopping by ships reached a record high in 2025, according to data from analytics firm Windward.

This is reported by Splash.

More than 57% of tankers under sanctions are now flying false flags or have no valid IMO registration at all. Windward also identified 12 fictitious ship registries used by the “shadow fleet” to circumvent sanctions against Russia, Iran and Venezuela.

African registries have seen particularly sharp growth:

• Benin has increased its fleet by almost 50,000%;

• Gambia – by 574%;

• Comoros has entered the top 30 flags in the world, but has since reduced its register following inspections.

The EU and the UK this year added Intershipping Services (UAE), which manages the registries of the Comoros and Gabon — both closely linked to the transportation of Russian oil — to the sanctions list.

In parallel, Liberia has consolidated its top spot among flags by tonnage, overtaking Panama, and Singapore is poised to overtake Hong Kong — after a number of shipowners withdrew from China to avoid US tariffs.

USM previously reported that the EU is proposing sanctions against companies that provided false flags to Russia’s “shadow fleet.”