MBABANE – Government has issued global notices directing maritime authorities across the world to impound any vessel flying Eswatini’s flag, as the country does not operate a shipping registry.
This was disclosed by Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Thulani Mkhaliphi, following reports that an Eswatini-flagged vessel had been intercepted in Iran. Soon after an interview, government released a formal statement reinforcing its position on the matter.
In the statement, Mkhaliphi said the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini wished to state categorically that the country has no vessel registered under its flag, adding that no maritime registry exists and no person, company or foreign agent has been authorised to register ships on Eswatini’s behalf.
He stressed that any vessel claiming the Eswatini flag is operating illegally and those responsible must be dealt with by global enforcement bodies, including Interpol.
He added that establishing a maritime registry was a formal institutional process requiring an Act of Parliament, which has not been enacted.
“Until such time, any vessel alleging to be registered in Eswatini is doing so fraudulently,” he said.
The latest global notices were triggered by the seizure of an Eswatini-flagged vessel by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy in the Persian Gulf.
The ship, carrying an estimated 350 000 litres of smuggled gasoil, was detained under a judicial order and escorted to the port of Bushehr. Its 13 crew members are reportedly from India and a neighbouring country.
Iran did not disclose the vessel’s origin or ownership, but Mkhaliphi said the incident again exposed ‘a long-standing and criminal pattern’ where international networks fraudulently register vessels under Eswatini’s identity.
“We are tired of thugs who continue to abuse the name of our country with such impunity,” he said.
Given that the country has no authorised registry, Mkhaliphi said government cannot identify the owners of these vessels.
“What is clear is that Eswatini’s name is being misused in a deeply irresponsible manner by criminal elements engaged in illicit activities such as fuel smuggling,” he said.
He emphasised that Eswatini condemns any attempt to associate the kingdom with maritime criminality and will continue cooperating with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other global bodies to eradicate the abuse of the country’s name.
The PS reiterated that Eswatini has no connection to the vessel seized in Iran or to any illegal maritime operations globally.
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