Prime Minister Gaston Browne has sounded the alarm over a surge in illegal activities at sea, warning that maritime crime poses a growing threat to global security and demanding stronger international cooperation to confront it.
According to Antigua.news, Browne delivered the warning at the opening of the 2026 Global Maritime Security and Sanctions Enforcement Symposium, held in Antigua and Barbuda. He urged the international community to act collectively against sanctions evasion, fraudulent vessel registrations, and the expansion of so-called "shadow fleets" operating outside international regulations.
The three-day symposium has drawn more than 90 delegates, including representatives from governments, international maritime organisations, ship registries, and industry experts. The event is jointly hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS), the United States Department of State, and Sandia National Laboratories.
Addressing participants, Browne said Antigua and Barbuda is honoured to welcome global partners committed to protecting the integrity of the international maritime industry.
"Our shared goal is clear: to ensure a fair, secure and competitive industry by identifying and preventing the registration of vessels suspected of illicit activity," the Prime Minister said.
Browne stressed that Antigua and Barbuda remains firmly committed to strengthening global maritime safety through multilateral partnerships. He highlighted the country's role in establishing the Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring (GCMSM) alongside the Republic of Malta, and welcomed senior officials from Malta and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, noting that their participation underscores the significance of the initiative.
The Prime Minister also pointed to Antigua and Barbuda's leadership in creating the Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC), an initiative designed to facilitate information-sharing among ship registries, describing transparency as essential in the fight against illegal shipping.
"Sharing data is our strongest defence against illicit operators and sanctions evaders," Browne said, welcoming Malta as the newest member of the growing international network.
Director General of Merchant Shipping, Ambassador Dwight Gardiner, said the symposium provides a platform for ship registries, government officials, and maritime industry leaders to exchange best practices aimed at improving sanctions enforcement, strengthening maritime security, and preventing the fraudulent registration of vessels involved in illegal activities.
Gardiner noted that discussions will also focus on enhancing global sanctions compliance and addressing maritime activities that threaten international security and commercial integrity.
Participants include representatives from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC), the Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring (GCMSM), the Maritime UN Sanctions Enforcement (MUSE) initiative, and several other international coalitions dedicated to protecting the global maritime sector.
