"Fake Names and Nationalities": 3,000 "Ghost Ships" Roam the Seas... Why the US and UK Are Cracking Down [News Seolcham]

Illegal trade of crude oil and other goods to evade international sanctions
Sailing without marine insurance, turning off automatic identification systems
Direct seizures by the U.S., U.K., and others to prevent sanctions from being undermined

Editor's Note'Seolcham' is a newly coined term meaning "refer to the explanation for more details." In [News Seolcham], we pinpoint parts of the news that require fact-checking or further explanation and provide more in-depth information.

The United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries are cracking down on "ghost ships" roaming the world's oceans. Ghost ships are cargo vessels whose operating companies, owners, and even nationalities are unclear. They are used to secretly deliver cargo to countries under international economic sanctions. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the number of ghost ships has surged, and it is estimated that more than 3,000 ghost cargo vessels are currently wandering international sea routes.

Fake names and owners' nationalities... "Ghost ships" adrift at sea

On the 15th (local time), the US Marine Corps seized the ghost tanker Veronica in the Caribbean Sea. Official Southcom (US Southern Command) X

The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that on the 15th (local time), it seized the oil tanker Veronica in the Caribbean Sea. According to the command, Veronica is a ghost tanker involved in Venezuelan crude oil exports, and with this operation, the US military has captured a total of six ghost ships. Veronica was sailing under the Guyanese flag, but its actual nationality, owner, and even its name remain unclear.

The United States has been tracking such ghost ships even before the Venezuelan invasion. At a press conference on the 22nd of last month, US President Donald Trump defined ghost ships as "acts of piracy" and criticized Venezuela, saying, "Venezuela violated sanctions and used the proceeds from oil sales to fund drug-related crimes."

The United States is not alone in the hunt for ghost ships. Earlier this month, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that it had tracked the Russian-linked oil tanker Bella 1 by reconnaissance aircraft and seized it together with the US military. Bella 1 is a stateless vessel without a valid flag, and it was found that the Russian side had changed its name to "Marinera" before departure.

Avoiding marine insurance, mostly aging ships... "High risk of breakdown"

A vessel of the U.S. Coast Guard attempting to seize a ghost tanker linked to a Russian crude oil company. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The term "ghost ship" refers to cargo or oil tankers that secretly sail while concealing their nationality, name, and affiliation. They are mainly used by countries under international sanctions to illegally export resources such as oil. Fleets made up of ghost ships are called "ghost fleets" or "shadow fleets."

To evade international monitoring, ghost ships often do not carry marine insurance and deliberately turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS), which transmits information such as the vessel's location, speed, and route. There are also cases where they operate using scrapped vessel numbers assigned by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The BBC explained, "It's like stealing the identity of a dead person," and added, "This is a common tactic used by ships trying to disguise their nationality."

After the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in 2022 and Russia came under international economic sanctions, the number of ghost fleets increased explosively. According to MarineTraffic, a global ship tracking data provider, the number of ghost ships worldwide was estimated at 3,313 as of the end of last year. At the end of 2022, there were only about 600.

Ghost ships are not only dangerous because they circumvent international sanctions, but also due to significant safety concerns. MarineTraffic pointed out, "Ghost ships repeatedly change their nationality and do not have insurance coverage. As a result, most are aging vessels that have not been properly maintained and are at high risk of breakdown."

Russia's war chest... US, UK, and others intensify crackdown

A ghost tanker that stopped operating due to engine malfunction off the Baltic coast last January. Photo by the German Ship Accident Response Unit website

The United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries are concerned that the proliferation of ghost fleets is undermining the effectiveness of economic sanctions. In particular, Russia is reportedly using ghost fleets to export crude oil and fund its war efforts.

Stephen Doughty, the UK's Minister for Europe, North America, and Overseas Territories, said in a parliamentary discussion on the 15th, "We are currently sanctioning 900 individual vessels, of which 520 tankers are linked to major Russian oil companies," and added that the UK would work with other countries to eliminate ghost fleets.

He emphasized, "Russia's war funds come from crude oil exports, and curbing this is key to weakening its wartime economy." He added, "We will show President Vladimir Putin that he cannot defeat the West."