Aruba’s name fraudulently used by vessels linked to the ‘shadow fleet

ORANJESTAD — Aruba’s name has become caught up in a growing international problem involving vessels using fraudulent registrations and false flags. According to Lloyd’s List, Dutch authorities say 59 vessels are falsely claiming registration in Aruba, Curaçao or Sint Maarten. Together, they account for almost 10% of all vessels currently known by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to be operating under false flags.

The key issue for Aruba is that the country does not operate an international registry for these seagoing vessels, meaning ships making such claims have no authorization from Aruba to use its flag or present themselves as Aruba-registered. The Dutch government has previously confirmed that the Kingdom informed the IMO about fraudulent use of Aruba’s non-existent international ship registry.

According to Lloyd’s List, more than half of the 59 vessels are actively trading in the Middle East Gulf, with many linked to shadow-fleet operations and other high-risk shipping practices. The term “shadow fleet” is commonly used for vessels that may change flags, identities or ownership structures to make oversight more difficult and, in some cases, circumvent international sanctions.

The issue goes beyond simply displaying the wrong flag. The IMO says fraudulent registration can involve forged documents, unauthorized companies pretending to be official registries and manipulation of vessels’ AIS identification information.

The Netherlands says it has been warning foreign port authorities about falsely flagged vessels for years, but criminal investigations and enforcement against the people and organizations behind fraudulent registries remain limited, according to Lloyd’s List.

For Aruba, the matter is particularly sensitive because the island’s name and flag can become internationally associated with maritime activities that Aruba itself never authorized. The situation highlights the need for international authorities to verify vessel registrations and act against fraudulent use of Aruba’s maritime identity.