Cameroon Suspends International Registry Citing Fraud
•February 13, 2026
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Why It Matters
The suspension signals tightening global scrutiny of low‑regulation flags, potentially reshaping African maritime registries and curbing illicit trade routes.
Key Takeaways
- •Cameroon halts international ship registrations due to fraud.
- •EU and IMO pressure flagged Cameroon's low‑performance registry.
- •Registry grew 126% to over 500 vessels, third in Africa.
- •Shadow‑fleet vessels used to evade sanctions under Cameroonian flag.
- •Deregistration plan targets illegal fishing, drug smuggling ships.
Pulse Analysis
Ship registries that offer lax oversight, often called flags of convenience, have long attracted owners seeking lower fees and fewer inspections. Cameroon entered this niche in the past decade, leveraging its strategic location and minimal compliance costs to grow its fleet from a handful of vessels to over 500, placing it third among African registries. The rapid expansion was driven by a 126 percent jump in new entries, many of which were older tankers repurposed for international routes. This growth, however, exposed structural weaknesses in the country’s legal and monitoring frameworks.
The recent fraud scandal underscores how vulnerable such registries can become to cyber‑enabled manipulation and illicit exploitation. Regulators in the European Union and the International Maritime Organization have flagged Cameroon's flag for its disproportionate share of vessels linked to the shadow fleet—a network used to evade sanctions, transport Russian crude, and facilitate illegal fishing or drug shipments. By suspending new registrations, the Cameroonian government acknowledges the mounting diplomatic pressure and the risk of secondary sanctions that could deter investors and insurers from the market.
Looking ahead, Cameroon’s pledge to overhaul its registration process could set a benchmark for other emerging registries seeking legitimacy. Strengthened vetting, transparent ownership disclosures, and tighter cyber‑security protocols are likely to become prerequisites for re‑entry into global shipping lanes. For ship owners, the suspension may prompt a shift toward more reputable flags, while maritime financiers will reassess risk models that previously discounted flag‑state compliance. Ultimately, the episode illustrates a broader industry trend: heightened enforcement of maritime governance aimed at protecting supply‑chain integrity and curbing sanction‑busting activities.
Cameroon Suspends International Registry Citing Fraud
Cameroon Suspends International Ship Registry Amid Fraud Concerns
The government of the Central African nation of Cameroon announced that it is suspending its international ship registry, citing “several cases of fraudulent registrations.” The action comes after pressure from the European Union, the International Maritime Organization, and others on one of the flags with the lowest performance records and frequently cited by regulators.
The Ministry of Transport issued an official communique dated February 6 stating that it is suspending registrations for vessels intended to navigate outside Cameroonian waters until further notice. The suspension is pending reforms aimed at strengthening the legal framework governing registrations.
The Ministry said it had detected cases of fraud carried out using unauthorized applications. It disclaimed all responsibility and called the acts “reprehensible.” Media reports said the Transport Minister blamed cyber fraud.
After pressure from Europe, expressed as “concerns” about the number of tankers in the shadow fleet, Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute is reported to have convened a meeting. Business in Cameroon quotes Secretary General Séraphin Magloire Fouda as reporting that the agenda aimed at “identifying and eliminating factors that allow vessels identified as part of the ‘shadow fleet’ used to circumvent international sanctions to register under the Cameroonian maritime flag.” The meeting also agreed to initiate the deregistration of some vessels in the registry.
Clarksons Research cites a 126 percent increase in ship registrations in Cameroon. The country now has the third‑largest registry in Africa, with the Equasis database listing over 500 ships under the flag. However, only one vessel—a 32‑year‑old LPG carrier named Falcon—is listed as a false flag. The ship is owned and managed from India.
Tankers registered in Cameroon have been cited for their involvement in the Russian oil trade, and some have been sanctioned by the United States and other jurisdictions. Recent reports also indicate that vessels registered in Cameroon have been seized for illegal fishing or drug smuggling.
The EU and the United States have been trying to crack down on loosely regulated registries as part of broader efforts to curb sanction‑busting activities and illegal shipping.
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