Panama’s Maritime Authority has removed more than 650 vessels from its ship registry since 2019 to strengthen compliance with international sanctions and tighten control over maritime activities.
The registry, one of the largest in the world, has been under increasing global pressure to prevent the misuse of its flag by vessels involved in illicit trade.
Out of the 650-plus ships removed, 214 vessels were taken off the registry since October 2024 alone. These vessels together accounted for more than 12 million gross tonnes and were delisted under a new decree that allows Panama to cancel registrations of ships whose owners are listed on international sanctions lists. Once a ship is de-flagged, it can no longer legally sail under the Panamanian flag.
The move comes after criticism from U.S.-based non-governmental organisation United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which said that Panama is not doing enough to stop sanctioned vessels, particularly those linked
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