Russia Using Cook Islands’ Registry to Mask Its ‘Shadow Fleet,’ New Zealand Says

Emails from NZ’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reveal concerns about Russia using the Cook Islands’ shipping registry to avoid sanctions.

A photo taken on Dec. 28, 2024, off Porkkalanniemi, Kirkkonummi, in the Gulf of Finland, shows oil tanker Eagle S (L), which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands, next to tugboat Ukko (R). Jussi Nukari/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images

A series of emails from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) reveal concerns that Russia is registering its ships in the Cook Islands as part of its creation of a shadow fleet to avoid sanctions on the sale of its oil.

Also called “dark fleet,” the vessels are normally oil tankers, named due to their practice of “going dark” by turning off trackers to obfuscate their movements.