Guyana Denies Ownership of Tanker Seized by US for Carrying Iranian Oil

Guyana Responds to US Seizure of Tanker

Georgetown (Guyana): Officials from Guyana have stated that a tanker, recently confiscated by the United States in Asia for allegedly transporting Iranian crude oil under sanctions, was falsely registered under the Guyanese flag.

The announcement was made by the Maritime Administration Department of Guyana in a press release issued to the media on Thursday.

The statement highlighted that the vessel was previously known as Phonix, which is the name cited by the US Treasury when it imposed sanctions on the ship.

"This vessel is not officially registered in Guyana; therefore, its registration is deemed fraudulent," the statement clarified.

"Although the ship has undergone a name change, its International Maritime Organisation number is still listed in the global database as PHONIX. There is no record of this vessel or its name in Guyana's official registry," it added.