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New Zealand warned Pacific neighbour over oil smuggling 'shadow fleet'
New Zealand identified 19 tankers linked to smuggling for Russia and Iran using the Cook Islands registry, with seven still registered as of mid-January 2026.
- In recent years, New Zealand officials flagged a shadow fleet of 19 tankers suspected of smuggling oil for Russia and Iran and raised a confidential list with Cook Islands authorities, noting the registry allows foreign vessels to sail under its flag for modest fees.
- Analysts say remote registration practices allowed rapid expansion as Maritime Cook Islands was named the 'fastest growing registry' and held some 150 foreign tankers at its peak.
- Both the Arabesca, crude oil tanker, and the Maruti, chemical tanker, were deleted from the Cook Islands' registry, with the Maruti transporting 'hundreds of thousands of barrels' of Iranian naptha last year.
- New Zealand's foreign affairs department said it raised serious concerns with the Cook Islands government about shadow fleet flagging, while Maritime Cook Islands denied harbouring sanctioned vessels.
- Seven ships remained registered as of mid-January this year, while the UN-backed International Maritime Organisation lists 40 tankers, and budget papers estimate US$150,000 in registry revenue.
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32 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources32
Leaning Left4Leaning Right6Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution40% Right
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources lean Right
40% Right
L 27%
C 33%
R 40%
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