Small African and Pacific shipping flags are growing fastest, alongside the emergence of the “dark” fleet operating in areas that could be affected by international sanctions.

In Africa, Cameroon grew by 1m gt in 2022, increasing its registered fleet size by 41.5%. Gabon grew by 21.6% and Tanzania by 19.4%, according to broker Clarksons.

The Pacific microstate of Palau showed the most dramatic growth: its fleet rose by 54.4%