Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has moved to distance the country from an oil tanker seized by United States authorities, making it clear that the vessel was never legitimately registered under the Guyana flag.
In a statement issued on Thursday, MARAD confirmed that it had been advised of the seizure of the oil tanker Majestic X by US forces in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was reportedly transporting Iranian oil and had previously been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 under the name PHONIX for smuggling crude oil in violation of American sanctions.
MARAD said the ship is not listed in Guyana’s registry and is therefore falsely operating under the country’s flag.
“This ship is not registered in Guyana; thus, the registration is false and fraudulent… There is no record of this vessel or name in Guyana’s registry. Therefore, the ship is fraudulently flying the Guyana flag,” the department stated.
According to MARAD, while the vessel’s name was changed, its International Maritime Organization (IMO) number remains tied to its previous identity, confirming its sanctioned status.
The department emphasised that Guyana operates a closed ship registry system, meaning vessels can only be registered if they are owned by Guyanese nationals, residents, CARICOM citizens, or companies established under Guyanese law. Authorities noted that none of the purported owners of the vessel meet these criteria.
MARAD further disclosed that cases of fraudulent vessel registration linked to Guyana have been identified since 2021, with perpetrators targeting multiple jurisdictions, including Panama and other regional states. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) maintains a list of vessels falsely flying member state flags.
The agency said it continues to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international partners, including the United Nations and other maritime bodies, to share intelligence on such activities.
“The Maritime Administration Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continue to share information on these false registrations… with all United Nations maritime states and relevant regional and international maritime associations,” the statement noted.
The department also pointed out that sanctions imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Western nations form part of broader efforts to combat fraudulent maritime operations.
At the same time, MARAD pushed back against what it described as misleading reporting, cautioning media entities against publishing unverified claims that could undermine confidence in Guyana’s maritime registry.
“MARAD is wary of the intent of some local news outlets… determined to share unconfirmed and false allegations as to the integrity of Guyana’s ship registry,” the statement added.
