Tonga does not register foreign vessels engaged in international voyages. “Any foreign vessel currently transmitting under the Tongan flag is doing so fraudulently and without authorization from the Kingdom of Tonga,” the Prime Minister's Office said in a formal statement last night.
They were responding to media reports this week that sanctioned oil tankers are falsely flying the flag of Tonga.
“Tonga's international registry of ships (TIRS) has been ceased since 2002 and does not register foreign vessels engaged in international voyages. Any foreign vessel currently transmitting under the Tongan flag is doing so fraudulently and without authorization from the Kingdom of Tonga.,” the Prime Minister's Office stated.
They said the Maritime Administration Office, which oversees Tonga's maritime safety, compliance, and regulatory framework had maintained strict oversight since the closure of the registry to ensure that Tonga's flag was not misused in global shipping.
“The vessels mentioned in a media article, are part of what is commonly referred to as the "shadow fleet," which employs tactics such as transmitting false identity signals through the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to evade detection.
“The Tonga Maritime Administration Office (MAO) is closely monitoring this issue and is coordinating with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to safeguard Tonga's name and flag from misuse.
While Tonga bears no responsibility for vessels fraudulently using its flag, the Government acknowledges the reputational risks posed by false AIS data being reported widely.
The Government of Tonga remains committed to protecting the integrity of its maritime identity and will continue to work with international partners to address this matter,” the Prime Minister's Office said.
