Barbados warns of ‘false flag’ trend after Iran claims oil vessel capture

Claims on Friday that a Barbadian-flagged oil tanker had been seized by the Iranian navy in the Gulf of Oman have prompted the foreign ministry to sound the alarm over what it said was a growing practice of ship owners using false flags to hide their true identity.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy seized a Barbados-flagged oil tanker, Ocean Koi, in a “special operation” in the Gulf of Oman, Iranian state media said.

In Bridgetown, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not confirm whether the vessel was registered here.

Citing an army statement, Iranian media accused the vessel of attempting to harm and disrupt Iran’s oil exports and national interests by “exploiting regional conditions”.

Ocean Koi was sanctioned by the US in February.

The oil tanker was escorted to its southern coast and handed over to judicial authorities, Tehran said.

But Kerrie Symmonds, currently acting as foreign minister, said the incident had not been formally drawn to his attention.

“I am unable to confirm the veracity of this claim and of course cannot even be sure that, if true, the ship is not sailing under a false flag which, unfortunately, is now a developing trend with vessels or ships’ owners who are evading sanctions and are trying to obscure their true identity and nationality,” Symmonds told Barbados TODAY.

In March, the Barbados Maritime Ship Registry (BMSR) reported that the Barbados-registered bulk carrier Ocean Pretty was attacked by rocket and gunfire while navigating the Strait of Hormuz. The registry, based in London, said the incident raised significant concerns about maritime security in a region critical for global oil transport, particularly amid escalating tensions related to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor, facilitates nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil trade.

According to a sailor aboard the Ocean Pretty at the time, the vessel was struck without any prior warning.

No crew members were reported injured during the attack. The ship remains stranded near Bandar Abbas, a southern Iranian port city, awaiting inspection.

The extent of the damage to the vessel remains unclear. In an attempt to enhance safety while traversing the high-risk area, the ship had raised Chinese flags, a tactic sometimes employed in such situations. Warnings circulated in private chat groups suggest that this measure may not guarantee safety.

In light of the attack, the Barbados Maritime Ship Registry continues to monitor the situation closely and has issued operational guidance for vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz.

The BMSR emphasised that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the strait is classified as an international passage, allowing for free navigation. The registry said Iran does not possess the legal authority to unilaterally close the strait to international traffic, affirming that Barbadian-flagged vessels retain the right to transit the area.

Despite international law, the BMSR has strongly advised ship owners, managers and masters to conduct comprehensive risk assessments and consider avoiding the Strait of Hormuz where operationally feasible to ensure crew safety. While the BMSR did not deem it necessary to issue a specific marine circular at this time, it will continue to monitor developments closely.

Since the onset of the conflict, many vessels have either ceased using the strait or are waiting in nearby waters for safer conditions.

(EJ)