Cameroon condemns flag misuse by ‘ghost fleet’ tanker Tagor
The tanker Tagor, suspected of operating under a fraudulent Cameroonian flag after departing from Murmansk, was intercepted on May 31 approximately 400 nautical miles west of Brittany before being redirected to France.
On May 31, the tanker Tagor faced interception roughly 740 kilometers (about 400 nautical miles) west of Brittany, amidst suspicions of illegally displaying a Cameroonian flag. This vessel, which had set sail from Murmansk, Russia, and was reportedly en route to Limbe, Cameroon, underwent a thorough nationality verification at sea, conducted in line with Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Subsequently, the French Navy provided an escort, diverting the ship to France.
Yaoundé issues strong condemnation over flag deception
In a public radio address, Cameroonian Transport Minister Jean Ernest Masséna Ngalle Bibehe explicitly stated that the Tagor is not listed in any official registers of vessels permitted to fly the Cameroonian flag. He vehemently condemned the “fraudulent and abusive appropriation of Cameroonian national symbols” and urged the international community to implement robust measures against such illicit practices. Yaoundé further reiterated its dedication to “purifying and modernizing its national flag registry.”
This official declaration serves to unequivocally disassociate Cameroon from any links to a vessel identified by maritime authorities as part of the “ghost fleet” — a network of ships engaged in transporting sanctioned oil to global markets via sea. The incident underscores a critical vulnerability within national flag registries, which can be exploited by entities aiming to bypass regulatory oversight.
France’s persistent efforts: Fourth interception since September 2025
The interception of the Tagor marks another operation by French maritime authorities targeting this clandestine fleet, representing the fourth such intervention since September 2025. Following comprehensive inspections, the matter has been handed over to the public prosecutor’s office in Brest, which holds jurisdiction over maritime legal affairs.
Since June 2, the tanker has remained anchored in the serene bay of Douarnenez, situated within the Finistère department, pending the progression of an ongoing judicial investigation. The increasing frequency of these maritime interceptions highlights Europe’s intensifying scrutiny and control over oil export routes designed to circumvent international sanctions.
