Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia Maritime Administration (GMA) has removed seventy-two vessels from the Gambian ship register in a sweeping crackdown designed to safeguard the integrity of the national flag and prevent its exploitation by shadow-fleet operators.
The move follows an internal audit that uncovered multiple vessels carrying fraudulent certificates falsely presented as having been issued by the GMA.
Although definitions may vary, shadow fleet vessels are generally older (over 15 years), often in poor condition, and usually lack adequate or any insurance coverage.
These ships typically sail under flags of convenience to hide their real ownership and use high-risk methods to evade detection, including turning off their automatic identification systems (“going dark”) and performing hazardous ship-to-ship transfers in international waters.
Gambian officials said the discovery underscores a longstanding global challenge: the use of forged documentation by ships operating in opaque “shadow fleets,” many of which are linked to sanctions evasion, illicit oil transfers, or other high-risk maritime activity.
The GMA emphasised that all registration and statutory certificates bearing its name must be verified directly with the Administration, warning shipowners against relying on intermediaries who may issue falsified documents for financial gain. “The falsification of official documents is a criminal offense under Gambian law,” the agency reminded operators in a public statement.
Part of a Wider Clean-Up of the Gambian Flag
The development adds a new chapter to The Gambia’s ongoing efforts to restore credibility to a registry that has in recent years faced scrutiny over vessels linked to sanctions breaches, opaque ownership chains, and substandard safety compliance.
Past assessments by international maritime databases have flagged some Gambian-registered vessels for involvement in risky ship-to-ship transfers and operations associated with dark-fleet networks.
Maritime security analysts note that smaller registries are often targeted by operators seeking flags with lower regulatory visibility—making robust oversight essential.
By purging vessels carrying fraudulent documents and enforcing stricter verification mechanisms, the GMA is signalling its intention to distance the Gambian flag from such high-risk activity and meet international expectations for transparency and compliance.
Global Port Authorities Urged to Verify All Gambian-Flagged Ships
In an unusually direct appeal to the international maritime community, the GMA urged Port State Control (PSC) authorities worldwide to contact the Administration whenever a Gambian-flagged vessel enters their jurisdiction.
Officials said such coordination is crucial for verifying the authenticity of registration certificates and ensuring that ships flying the Gambian flag meet global safety and environmental standards.
The call reflects the GMA’s increasing engagement with global enforcement partners and its desire to eliminate loopholes that shadow fleets often exploit—particularly in ports where documentation may not be routinely cross-checked with issuing authorities.
Moratorium on New Registrations Until December 2025
As part of broader reforms, the GMA has instituted a moratorium on new ship registrations under The Gambia’s flag until December 2025. The pause, officials say, will allow the institution to overhaul internal systems, strengthen vetting procedures, and rebuild confidence in its flag-state operations.
During the moratorium, priority will be placed on clearing irregularities, tightening document-control processes, and establishing safeguards to ensure that only compliant, legitimately operated vessels are admitted to the register once the freeze is lifted.
A Push to Reclaim Maritime Credibility
With the deregistration of 72 ships and a temporary halt to new entries, The Gambia is positioning itself to redefine its role as a responsible flag State after years of vulnerabilities linked to its open-registry model.
The Administration insists these reforms are essential to protect the country’s international standing and prevent its flag from being exploited as a haven for unlawful maritime activity.
However, it remains to be seen how effectively the new push can be enforced, as just last week, a decades-old Icelandic trawler newly registered under the Gambian flag was impounded in the Scottish port of Stornoway after UK marine inspectors uncovered multiple safety deficiencies, reinforcing growing concerns about the surge in aging, substandard vessels operating under Gambia’s flag.
The vessel, Sæfari—a 27.5-meter trawler built in 1988—has now spent nearly two weeks tied up at Number 3 Pier with its crew of four Ukrainian seafarers unable to continue their journey to West Africa.
For shipowners, the message is clear: engage directly with the GMA, avoid unauthorized intermediaries, and ensure all documentation is genuine—or risk removal from a registry that is now tightening its grip.
