Madagascar Flags Rise in Fraudulent Ship Registrations

Madagascar has issued a warning over an increase in fraudulent vessel registrations after authorities identified nine ships operating with flag state documents issued in the country’s name.

In a formal communication to the International Maritime Organization, Madagascan port authorities said the vessels, which include general cargo ships as well as small product, LPG, and crude tankers, were carrying documentation suggesting they were registered in Madagascar. Officials stressed that the country does not operate an international ship registry.

The alert places Madagascar among a growing number of African states whose names have been misused by operators attempting to obscure vessel ownership and trading activity through false flags and forged paperwork.

According to data from maritime analytics firm Windward, more than 300 shadow fleet tankers linked to sanctioned oil trades involving Iran, Venezuela, or Russia adopted fraudulent flags during 2025, often after multiple changes of registration.

The registries most commonly used for these false flag operations were Guinea, with 51 ships, followed by the Netherlands Antilles with 45, Guyana with 44, and Aruba with 24.

Windward data also shows that around 120 tankers trading Russian cargoes and measuring over 180 meters in length have been broadcasting flags from 19 fraudulent registries, including Botswana, Guyana, Guinea, and Madagascar.

“When a vessel claims a fraudulent or nonexistent registry, the mechanisms that underpin maritime trade begin to fail,” Windward stated, adding: “Flag-state responsibility becomes unenforceable. Insurance and classification linked to that flag may be invalid, suspended, or impossible to verify.”