Guyana-Flagged Tanker Detained by Venezuela for False Entry

On January 13, Guyana’s Department of Public Information reported that Venezuelan authorities seized the tanker Four Plus for entering Venezuelan waters without authorization. The vessel, flying Guyana’s flag without proper clearance, was detained for lacking the required permits.

Following the incident, Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department clarified that the Four Plus was not registered in Guyana and had been fraudulently using the country’s flag.

The Four Plus is a chemical tanker measuring 183.2 meters in length, with a beam of 32.2 meters and a gross tonnage of 28,981.

This is not the first instance of false flagging. Previously, five oil tankers linked to Syria, Iran, and Venezuela faced sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department for using false registrations.

The broader issue of false flagging will be addressed at the 112th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Legal Committee, scheduled for March this year.