Grants and Contributions:

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Title:

Enhancing knowledge and collaboration against the shadow fleet

Agreement Number:

7474909 P017322001

Agreement Value:

$89,000.00

Agreement Date:

Feb 16, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026

Description:

The global community needs to enhance its detection, monitoring and reporting on the operations of the dark fleet and supporting certain flag States enhance their capacities. The initiative will focus on conducting research to fill knowledge gaps on the operations of the dark fleet; and promote cooperation through enhanced connectivity and interoperability amongst flag registries.

Organization:

Global Affairs Canada

Expected Results:

Address knowledge gap by consulting the International Maritime Law Institute and the International Maritime
Organisation to:

a. Develop indicators to clarify vessels’ status of compliance, to assure conformity with international maritime conventions, including the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL); and instruments relating to maritime safety and pollution prevention (MoUs). This is intrinsically tied to flag State and port State cooperation, as well as the seven Port State Control regimes, amongst others.
b. Develop indicators to identify between legitimate and credible insurance companies, by appreciating legal requisites to insuring ships and formulating them into checklist, so that partners can consider measures to prevent the proliferation of the dark fleet.
c. Develop indicators which allow recognition of legitimate classification societies, to serve as a trigger to potentially identifying dark vessel activities.

Devise information exchange procedures amongst flag States, port States, coastal States, and other industry stakeholders to impart information on:

a. fraudulent registration;
b. lack of insurance coverage;
c. substandard conditions and/or maintenance;
d. deceptive shipping practices by intentionally disabling or manipulating their shipborne automatic identification systems (AIS);
e. offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfers to avoid oversight or regulation by flag or coastal States; and
f. disguising cargoes' destination or origin;
g. enhance transparency in shipping and insurance practices; and
h. facilitate compliance among shipping companies, potentially offering incentives for transparent operations and adherence to international sanctions, in support of the Registry Information-Sharing Compact (RISC).

Location:

Valletta, MT

Reference Number:

064-2025-2026-Q4-0062

Agreement Type:

Contribution

Report Type:

Grants and Contributions

Recipient Type:

Not-for-profit organization or charity

Recipient's Legal Name:

Global Centre Maritime Sanctions

Program:

Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs)

Program Purpose:

The Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) is the Government of Canada’s (GoC) platform for conflict prevention, stabilization and peacebuilding. It engages in fragile and conflict-affected states leveraging resources of, and partnerships with, multilateral institutions and like-minded nations. It effects its work through policy expertise, support to multilateral institutions, programming and deployments.