The United Arab Emirates has prohibited ships flying the flag of Eswatini, a landlocked African country, from entering its ports. This decision is part of the UAE’s efforts to distance itself from risky vessels involved in transporting Russian oil shipments. Eswatini’s flag has been added to a list restricting calls at UAE ports along with Cameroon’s flag earlier this year. Vessels rated by major international classification bodies are exempt from this ban, which aims to maintain safety standards in global shipping.
After the invasion of Ukraine, there has been an increased scrutiny on the safety records of flag states in global shipping. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has emerged as a new player in this sector. Clarkson Research Services Ltd. reveals that currently, 26 ships fly under the Eswatini flag, with some of them involved in transporting oil produced in Russia and Iran. The ownership of 16 Eswatini-flagged vessels listed in ship-tracking data remains unclear.
The ban on Eswatini-flagged ships by the UAE is part of efforts to avoid risky vessels involved in transporting sanctioned oil shipments. This move highlights the importance of flag states in maintaining safety standards in global shipping, particularly in light of recent geopolitical events. The UAE’s decision to restrict calls by Eswatini-flagged ships reflects a wider trend of increased scrutiny on flag states in the shipping industry.
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