Fake Shipping Registry Sparks National Investigation Measures

February 9, 2026 10:44 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

The Maritime Administrator of the Republic of Vanuatu has taken swift and decisive action following the discovery of a fraudulent website impersonating the Vanuatu International Shipping Registry (VISR), while also confirming enhanced measures to prevent document forgery and misuse of the Vanuatu flag.

The unauthorised website, operating under the domain registervu.com, closely imitated the official VISR website (www.register-vu.com) by copying content and using a confusingly similar name. The site was not affiliated with, authorised by, or connected in any way to the Maritime Administrator, VISR, or the Government of Vanuatu.

The existence of the fraudulent domain was brought to the attention of the registry by a member of the maritime community during independent research into false-flagged vessels. Upon verification, the Maritime Administrator immediately initiated takedown procedures with the domain registrar and hosting providers. The website was subsequently suspended within hours of formal notification.

Officials stated that impersonation of a government-administered ship registry constitutes a serious criminal matter. Ship registries issue sovereign documentation relied upon globally by port State control authorities, banks, insurers, charterers, and maritime administrations. Any attempt to falsify or misrepresent registry status creates risks of fraud, financial harm, and the potential misuse of the Vanuatu flag, including by vessels seeking to evade international sanctions.

Following confirmation of the incident, the Maritime Administrator formally notified the Office of the Prime Minister (PM) and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). In response, the PM issued an immediate directive to open an investigation into the matter and to ensure that all individuals and entities involved are identified and held accountable under the law.

In parallel, the OAG has been requested to initiate the appropriate legal and law-enforcement processes, including international cooperation where required.

As part of the immediate response, the Maritime Administrator ordered a series of actions, including: suspension of the fraudulent domain; publication of a public fraud warning on the official VISR website; notification of legal counsel and relevant authorities; preservation of technical and documentary evidence; and formal requests for disclosure of identifying information from foreign service providers linked to the fraudulent website.

Further inquiries indicated that the fraudulent website had been developed and/or hosted by a foreign service provider. The Maritime Administrator has formally requested full disclosure of all identifying information relating to the individuals or entities responsible and has stated that failure to cooperate may result in escalation to national and international law-enforcement authorities.

In addition to enforcement action, the Maritime Administrator highlighted measures already implemented to combat forgery and false registry representations. To address the growing global risk of forged maritime documents, VISR has developed and deployed an interim registry system capable of generating secure, hard-to-forge documents incorporating digital verification features.

As part of these measures, the registry confirmed that all newly issued VISR documents are generated with an official QR code, allowing instant verification against registry records. The Maritime Administrator further confirmed that as of 1 January 2026, any VISR documents that do not contain an official QR code are no longer valid, regardless of format or appearance.

“These controls allow port State control authorities, banks, insurers, and other counterparties to immediately verify the authenticity of Vanuatu registry documents,” the Maritime Administrator said. “They are an essential safeguard against forgery and misuse of the Vanuatu flag.”

The Office of the Maritime Administrator emphasised that only one official website is authorised to represent the VISR: www.register-vu.com. Any other domain or platform claiming to issue Vanuatu registration certificates or services is unauthorised and invalid.

The registry confirmed that normal operations were not affected by the incident and that all legitimate services continue uninterrupted through official channels.

Stakeholders, including shipowners, agents, financial institutions, and classification societies, have been urged to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious communications or documents claiming to originate from VISR.

Officials stated that the rapid shutdown of the fraudulent website, combined with strengthened anti-forgery controls and the PM’s directive for investigation, demonstrates the Republic of Vanuatu’s commitment to protecting the integrity of its ship registry and upholding the credibility of the Vanuatu flag in an increasingly complex global maritime environment.