More Than 220 Ships are Falsely Registered under Fraudulent Flags; Chinese-flagged Ships Must Activate BeiDou Network by the End of December 220多艘船舶在欺诈船旗下虚假注册！中国旗船舶必须在12月底前开通北斗网络！

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According to a report submitted by the UK to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), over 220 ships are now falsely flagged, compared to 100 vessels two years ago.

The number of ships falsely registered under fraudulent flags has increased, doubling in less than two years which has raised serious concerns about maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.

Fraudsters are exploiting underfunded maritime authorities and geopolitical instability to keep substandard and sanctioned vessels in operation. These vessels often use fake documents to claim they are registered with legitimate flag states or are linked to fictitious registries that fail to verify ships and their owners properly.

Oil tankers and cargo ships make up the majority of falsely flagged vessels. Many have been involved in illegal activities such as sanctions evasion, high-risk ship-to-ship transfers, and switching off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to avoid detection.

Smaller and lesser-known flag states have seen a sharp rise in vessel registrations, with Sao Tome and Principe reporting a 385% increase in one year, Tanzania seeing a 130% rise, and the Cook Islands registering a 40% increase.

According to the UK-led submission, fraudulent flags compromise maritime safety, environmental standards, and the well-being of seafarers. The report states that some ships have been found using two false flags within a single year. In 2015, an investigation revealed that 73 out of 84 vessels claiming to be registered with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were falsely flagged.

The IMO is now exploring ways to tackle the issue. The UK, supported by 21 other countries, has proposed guidelines to help smaller and developing flag states improve their registration practices. These guidelines include better due diligence, increased transparency in ownership structures, and enhanced information sharing between flag states.

China has also called for a database to track fraudulently registered ships and fake registries. Meanwhile, some countries have urged registries to collect more detailed information about the beneficial owners of vessels to prevent fraud.

Sanctions and geopolitical instability have contributed to the growth of a shadow fleet of vessels operating under fraudulent flags. In December, Guyana identified tankers falsely registered under its flag, particularly those involved in transporting Iranian oil, which is under U.S. sanctions.

根据英国提交给国际海事组织 （IMO） 的一份报告，现在有 220 多艘船舶被挂错旗帜，而两年前只有 100 艘。

在虚假旗帜下虚假注册的船舶数量有所增加，在不到两年的时间里翻了一番，这引起了人们对海上安全、安保和环境保护的严重担忧。

欺诈者正在利用海事当局资金不足和地缘政治不稳定来维持不合格和受制裁的船舶运营。这些船舶经常使用虚假文件声称它们在合法的船旗国注册，或与未能正确验证船舶及其船东的虚构登记机构相关联。

假旗船舶中大部分是油轮和货船。许多人参与了非法活动，例如逃避制裁、高风险的船对船转移以及关闭自动识别系统 （AIS） 以避免被发现。

规模较小和鲜为人知的船旗国的船舶注册量急剧上升，圣多美和普林西比报告称一年内增长了 385%，坦桑尼亚增长了 130%，库克群岛增长了 40%。

根据英国主导的提交文件，欺诈性旗帜损害了海事安全、环境标准和海员的福祉。该报告指出，一些船只被发现在一年内使用两面假旗。2015 年，一项调查显示，声称在刚果民主共和国注册的 84 艘船舶中，有 73 艘被挂错了旗帜。

IMO 正在探索解决这个问题的方法。英国在其他 21 个国家的支持下，提出了帮助较小和发展中船旗国改进其注册做法的指导方针。这些指导方针包括加强尽职调查、提高所有权结构的透明度以及加强船旗国之间的信息共享。

中国还呼吁建立一个数据库来追踪欺诈性注册船舶和虚假登记。与此同时，一些国家敦促登记处收集有关船舶实益拥有人的更详细信息，以防止欺诈。

制裁和地缘政治不稳定导致了悬挂欺诈船旗的影子船队的增长。12 月，圭亚那发现了在其国旗下虚假注册的油轮，特别是那些参与运输伊朗石油的油轮，这些油轮受到美国的制裁。

The Reasons for the Proliferation of Falsely Flagged Vessels

 Falsely flagged vessels have emerged as a significant concern, casting a shadow over the global maritime landscape. The existence of falsely flagged vessels has brought about a plethora of negative impacts, severely tarnishing the reputation of the international shipping community and the flag states themselves. However, the reasons behind the rampant increase are multifaceted.

From an internal perspective, the complexity of ownership structures has significantly increased the difficulty of regulation. Many flag states lack the necessary resources to effectively manage ship registration. Furthermore, delays in communication and information sharing have created opportunities for fraudulent activities to thrive. Additionally, some countries have outsourced flag management, and in the absence of legally binding agreements, robust governance, and oversight, this has further fueled the surge in the number of falsely flagged vessels.

Externally, changes in geopolitical situations have made certain flag states targets for fraudsters, with the increase in deceptive practices exacerbating this issue. Although the use of false International Maritime Organization (IMO) identification numbers is less common than false ship registration, there is still a certain risk of abuse, particularly for flag states with limited resources or experience. Their imperfect processes and procedures are more easily exploited.

假旗船舶大量出现的原因

假旗的存在带来了诸多负面影响，不仅对全球航运界和船旗国的声誉造成了严重损害。然而，假旗船舶大量出现的原因是多方面的。

从内部因素来看，所有权结构的复杂性使得监管难度加大，许多船旗国资源不足，难以对船舶登记进行有效的管理。同时，沟通和信息共享的延迟也为欺诈行为提供了可乘之机。此外，部分国家将船旗管理外包，在缺乏具有法律约束力的协议、强有力的治理和监督的情况下，进一步促使了假旗船舶数量的激增。

从外部因素来看，地缘政治形势的变化使一些船旗国成为欺诈者的目标，欺骗行为的增多也倒逼了这一问题。另外，虽然使用虚假的国际海事组织识别号码的情况不如虚假船舶登记普遍，但也存在一定的滥用风险，尤其是对于资源不足或经验不足的船旗国而言，其不完善的流程和程序更容易被利用。

The Threat of Fraudulent Activities to Shipping Safety

Currently, 80% of the ships on the blacklist are unable to confirm whether they have legitimate insurance coverage through proper channels. This means that in the event of an accident, these ships may be incapable of bearing the losses, posing a threat not only to the interests of other shipping companies but also to the marine environment.

At the same time, geopolitical instability has further weakened law enforcement in certain areas, providing more opportunities for fraudsters. Some ships even continue to operate under false identities, navigating through various ports and routes to further evade the scrutiny of regulatory authorities.

欺诈性行为对航运安全的威胁

目前被列入黑名单的船舶中，有80%目前无法确定是否拥有正规渠道的保险保护。这意味着这些船舶在发生事故时可能无力承担损失，不仅危害其他航运企业的利益，也对海洋环境构成重大威胁。

与此同时，地缘政治不稳定导致部分地区的执法力度进一步削弱，为欺诈者提供了更多可乘之机。一些船舶甚至以虚假身份继续运营，穿行于不同的港口和航线，进一步规避监管机构的追查。

New Regulations at Ports of Various Countries

Falsely flagged vessels are like hidden reefs lurking in the deep sea, posing a concealed yet significant threat to shipping safety. In addition to calling for the establishment of databases and other measures, some countries have also introduced new regulations.

各国港口新规

假旗船舶犹如潜藏于深海的暗礁，对航运安全构成了隐匿而巨大的威胁，除了号召数据库建立等手段，还有一些国家也推出一些新规。

China-flagged Ships to Activate Beidou Network

Recently, China's maritime authorities have required that all China-flagged ships must activate the Beidou network by the end of December. The specific requirements are as follows:

Beidou System Large-scale Application Installation Requirements:

1.Equipment Requirements: The equipment should solely rely on Beidou-3 for positioning signals and must have the functions of sending and receiving messages, as well as reporting on the public network. A CCS type approval certificate for the equipment must be provided, and it will be included in the ship inspection certificate after installation.

2.Network Requirements: After the equipment is in place, apply for a Beidou card at Dongbao to ensure that the network is available and accessible (network entry will take about one month).

3.Time Requirements: Install as soon as possible, and complete the installation no later than the end of November, with network entry in December.

中国旗船舶开通北斗网络

近日，海事要求中国旗船舶必须在12月底前开通北斗网络，具体要求如下：

北斗系统规模化应用安装要求：

1、设备要求：单独由北斗三号提供定位信号，设备功能应有收发报文功能，公网上报功能。需提供设备CCS型式认可证书，安装后纳入船检证书。

2、网络要求：设备到位后到东保办理北斗卡，确保处于网络可用、可查（入网需耗时一个月）。

3、时间要求：尽快安装，最晚不迟于11月底完成安装，12月入网。

India Requires CCTV Installation for Berthing Ships

According to foreign media reports, on October 11, 2024, the Indian Directorate General of Shipping issued a draft MS notice, stipulating that all ships berthing at its ports must install a closed-circuit television surveillance system (CCTV) by October of this year. This decision was made following an increase in incidents such as personnel disappearances and collisions, emphasizing the necessity of enhancing safety measures on board.

However, India is not the first port country to require the installation of CCTV on berthing ships.

In July 2024, the Pilbara Port Authority announced that to further improve the navigational safety and operational efficiency of Port Hedland, starting from January 1, 2025, all Capesize vessels entering Port Hedland must install a CCTV camera in the steering gear room, positioned to clearly capture the rudder angle during maneuvering. A monitor must be installed near the steering gear control in the steering gear room, providing real-time CCTV footage displaying the rudder angle information for reference by pilots or bridge teams when entering or leaving berths.

印度靠港船舶必须安装监控

据外媒报道，2024年10月11日，印度航运总局曾发布了一份MS公告草案，印度规定所有停靠其港口的船只必须在今年10月前安装闭路电视监控系统（CCTV）。这一决定是在人员失踪和碰撞等事件增加之后做出的，强调了加强船上安全措施的必要性。

然而，印度并非首个要求靠港船舶加装CCTV的港口国家。

2024年7月，皮尔巴拉港务局宣布，为了进一步提升黑德兰港的航行安全性和运营效率，自2025年1月1日起，所有进入黑德兰港的Capesize型船舶必须在舵机房安装CCTV摄像头，其位置应能清晰捕捉到操纵时的船舵角度。舵机房必须在靠近舵机控制的位置安装一个监视器，提供实时的CCTV画面，显示舵角信息，供引航员或驾驶台团队在进出泊位时进行参考。

The Necessity of International Cooperation and Regulatory Reform

Addressing the issue of falsely flagged vessels requires global cooperation within the shipping industry and an enhancement of transparency. The International Maritime Organization and other regulatory bodies need to strengthen the review of ship registration procedures and implement technological means, such as blockchain or real-time monitoring systems, to ensure the authenticity and traceability of ship identity information.

Moreover, countries should intensify efforts to combat fraudulent registration practices, particularly those that exploit resource-constrained nations for fraudulent operations.

Data from S&P Global shows that among the globally sanctioned fleet, Russia and Iran lead in the number of sanctioned ships registered, followed by North Korea, Barbados, Guyana, and Panama. This series of data further highlights the severity and urgency of the falsely flagged vessels issue, demanding continuous attention and more effective measures from the international community to safeguard the safety and order of international shipping.

国际合作与法规改革的必要性

解决假旗船舶这一问题需要全球航运行业的合作和透明度的提升。国际海事组织及其他监管机构需要加强对船舶登记程序的审查，同时推行技术手段，如区块链或实时监控系统，以确保船舶身份信息的真实性和可追溯性。

此外，各国应加强对虚假登记行为的打击力度，特别是针对那些利用资源不足国家进行欺诈操作的行为。

标普全球的数据显示，在全球受制裁的船队中，俄罗斯、伊朗登记的受制裁船只数量位居前列，之后是朝鲜、巴巴多斯、圭亚那和巴拿马等国家。这一系列数据进一步凸显了假旗船只问题的严重性和紧迫性，需要国际社会持续关注并采取更加有效的措施，以维护国际航运的安全与秩序。

Whether it is the surge in false-flagged ships or the incidents of seafarer disappearances and collisions, these not only reflect the current vulnerabilities in global maritime safety but also highlight the imbalance in the allocation of maritime regulatory resources. Major maritime nations can play a greater role in advancing industry technological innovation by providing technical support and policy cooperation, offering stronger safeguards for international shipping safety.

无论是虚假旗帜船舶的激增，还是海员失踪和碰撞事件，不仅反映了当前全球海运安全的漏洞，也凸显了海事监管资源分配的不均衡。国际上的主要海事国家在推进行业技术革新的同时，可以发挥更大的作用，通过技术支持和政策合作，为国际航运安全提供更有力的保障。