The Cook Islands continue to face scrutiny over vessels linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” despite ongoing concerns raised by the New Zealand government. Official documents released to RNZ Pacific reveal that New Zealand officials have consistently criticized the Cook Islands for their slow response to these concerns, which date back to early 2025.
Communications between New Zealand’s High Commission in Rarotonga and Cook Islands authorities indicate that the issues have persisted since April of last year. The New Zealand Sanctions Unit intervened in May, issuing a formal notice in June. However, a follow-up in August noted that no additional Cook Islands-flagged vessels had been sanctioned.
Currently, three sanctioned vessels remain registered under the Cook Islands flag, including the notorious yacht Eagle S, linked to an oligarch, and a crude oil tanker recently sanctioned by the U.S. for connections to Iranian oil. While New Zealand officials have raised concerns about various vessels, Maritime Cook Islands (MCI) maintains that only two vessels mentioned are not under any sanctions.
Meetings between New Zealand and Cook Islands officials, held regularly, have shown New Zealand’s commitment to mitigating legal and reputational risks. Despite some confidence expressed in May that the Cook Islands were addressing these concerns, a formal communication from New Zealand soon identified 13 vessels as high-risk for dark fleet activity.
Eagle S became particularly controversial after it was involved in severing a subsea cable in the Baltic Sea, prompting Finland to observe Cook Islands ship inspection processes. Despite public assertions from the Cook Islands that the vessel had not faced sanctions, the European Union imposed sanctions shortly thereafter, although the Eagle S remained on the registry at Finland’s request during ongoing legal proceedings.
By late 2025, the Cook Islands had begun to better address the situation. Correspondence in October highlighted MCI’s prompt action in deregistering newly sanctioned vessels. This responsiveness marks a positive shift in the Cook Islands’ handling of the matter, with reports acknowledging the removal of 188 vessels from the registry over the last three and a half years.
While challenges remain in the Cook Islands’ relationship with New Zealand, with concerns about trust and communication still present, the steps taken to deregister sanctioned vessels showcase the potential for improvement and a commitment to addressing the issues at hand.