A tanker fraudulently flying the Guyana flag has been seized by US forces in the Indian Ocean after being linked to alleged sanctions-busting Iranian oil shipments, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has confirmed.
The oil tanker Majestic X was intercepted over suspected violations of US sanctions and is believed to be the same vessel previously listed by the US Treasury Department in 2024 under the name PHOENIX for smuggling Iranian crude oil.
MARAD said the vessel is not registered in Guyana and has no record in its national registry, stressing that the use of the Guyana flag is fraudulent. It noted that the ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number matches that of the sanctioned PHOENIX, despite a change of name.
The agency reiterated that Guyana operates a closed registry, limited to Guyanese nationals, CARICOM citizens, residents, or companies established under Guyanese law, adding that none of the purported owners meet these criteria.
It said cases of false Guyana registrations have been identified since 2021, with similar fraudulent activity affecting other jurisdictions, including Panama and regional states. The IMO maintains a global list of vessels falsely claiming national flags.
MARAD said it continues to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international partners, sharing information on fraudulent registrations with the United Nations maritime community and relevant organisations.
It also cautioned media outlets against circulating unverified claims about the integrity of Guyana’s ship registry.
