Cook Islands Registry Removed from Sanctions Risk Database: A New Chapter in Compliance

In recent years, Maritime Cook Islands has seen remarkable growth in its open registry services, aiming to capture one percent of global tonnage by the early 2030s. However, this rapid expansion has raised eyebrows regarding the governance of the Cook Islands. The emergence of “shadow fleet” tankers linked to its registry led to the cook Islands being removed from a U.S.-backed platform that tracks sanctioned vessels.

Like many small nations, the cook Islands relies on a private entity—Maritime Cook Islands Limited based in Rarotonga—to manage its ship registry. This partnership has resulted in a notable increase in registered merchant ships, with nearly 800 vessels added within just a few years.

The New Zealand foreign affairs ministry has flagged several “shadow fleet” tankers associated with Maritime Cook Islands and urged local authorities to take action. Given their close ties through a free association agreement, New Zealand is particularly invested in ensuring compliance and clarity.

The concerns escalated following an explosive growth phase for the registry; during just the first half of 2024, it expanded by an astonishing 140%, propelling it into one of the top thirty flag registries globally—primarily through older tanker acquisitions. Operators often acquire these older ships, rebranding and reflagging them as part of their operations.

By November 2024, New Zealand diplomats expressed serious worries during security discussions about potential sanctions evasion linked to certain vessels flying the Cook Islands flag. Officials were increasingly anxious about having more problematic ships on their register—a situation that could lead to reputational damage and legal complications if these disreputable vessels remained listed.

New Zealand isn’t alone in raising alarms; recently Maritime Cook Islands found itself cut off from accessing RISC (Registry Information Sharing Compact), an international database aimed at helping registries identify and block violators of sanctions. Established by prominent flag states like Panama and Marshall Islands,RISC’s removal came without clear explanations beyond allegations regarding possible breaches of service terms.

“MCI reached out multiple times between May 8-21 for clarification but received no response,” they told radio New Zealand. “We’re puzzled about what violation might have occurred.” This situation highlights not only regulatory challenges but also underscores how interconnected global maritime operations are today—where one nation’s actions can ripple across international waters.