Addressing ship reflagging to avoid sanctions

At a Glance 16-03-2023

Reflagging to a flag of convenience is a practice whereby a ship-owner registers their ships in a country with relatively light controls or low standards, for instance in the area of environmental or employment law. While this is legal in principle, it is often combined with illegal practices, including the circumvention of sanctions. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the EU are trying to tackle abusive reflagging.