Cameroon is set to register its vessels as part of efforts to combat the phenomenon known as the “shadow fleet” or “ghost fleet,” which involves tankers flying the Cameroonian flag suspected of aiding countries in circumventing international economic sanctions.
Vincent Gaudio, director of Amanar Advisor, a firm specializing in economic intelligence, tracks the real-time movements of a Cameroonian-flagged tanker on the website marinetraffic.com. According to Gaudio, in 2023, “a good dozen” Cameroonian tankers spent time in Russian ports.
“The use of ships from a third country is not illegal in itself. It is rather the sale of fuel outside the framework of sanctions and the use of vessels to transport this fuel that is currently being scrutinized. Cameroon is expected to address this aspect, focusing on the management of its fleet of vessels flying the Cameroonian flag and their intended purpose.”
The key issue is the traceability of ships, their cargo, and adherence to the $60 per barrel limit for Russian oil, as stipulated by sanctions. On April 22nd, the Cameroonian Minister of Transport announced a six-month suspension, renewable, of ship registration and the digitization of the registry.
This announcement followed a meeting in March with British diplomat Barry Lowen. London hosts the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization, which expressed concern in its December resolution about “illegal operations” conducted by “undeclared” vessels, urging flag states to take action when ships, for example, disable or manipulate their tracking systems.