Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Shadow fleet is an alliance of countries sharing naval intelligence.
2.Flags of Convenience (FoCs) refer to a practice where ship owners register their vessels in a country other than their own to benefit from more lenient regulations.
3.The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is responsible for regulating international trade.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect. The term “shadow fleet” refers to a group of vessels engaged in deceptive shipping practices, often used to transport sanctioned goods like Russian oil. This is done by hiding their origins and ownership through tactics such as disabling tracking systems and using flags of convenience. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a United Nations agency responsible for regulating maritime safety, security, and environmental standards for international shipping. However, it does not regulate international trade.
Statement 2 is correct. Flags of Convenience allow ship owners to register their vessels in countries with lenient regulations, lower taxes, and minimal oversight, which can reduce operating costs and obscure the true ownership of the ships.
Source: The Hindu
