eSwatini distances itself from Iranian shipping saga

The eSwatini Government has distanced itself from a vessel reportedly intercepted by Iranian authorities, insisting that the ship was using the kingdom’s flag illegally. IoL reports that the Ministry of Public Works & Transport said eSwatini does not have any ship registered under its flag and the country has neither authorised nor appointed any individual, company or foreign agent to register vessels on its behalf. ‘Consequently, any person or entity claiming to operate a ship under the eSwatini flag is doing so illegally. Such actors are criminals who must be dealt with by the relevant international authorities, including Interpol or the maritime regulators they attempt to deceive,’ said Principal Secretary Thulani Mkhaliphi. The response follows a Reuters report in which Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have seized an eSwatini-flagged tanker alleged to be carrying more than 350 000 litres of smuggled fuel near the port of Bushehr. The government said it is working with the International Maritime Organisation and other global enforcement bodies to address the fraudulent use of its national symbols.

Full IoL report