Overview:
Palau has firmly denied international reports linking an attacked tanker in the Strait of Hormuz to its flag, stating the vessel was removed from the national registry in January. Officials say the ship was not registered under Palau at the time of the incident and are expressing concern for injured crew members.
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau (March 2, 2026) — “The vessel was removed from the Palau registry in January 2026 in accordance with the Registry’s established compliance procedures and applicable regulatory requirements,” the Palau Ship Registry said Monday, stressing that MT Skylight “was not registered with the Palau Ship Registry at the time of the reported incident.”
In a public statement, the Palau Ship Registry (PSR) addressed international media reports that identified MT Skylight as a Palau-flagged vessel following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement cited reports issued by Oman Maritime Security Centre regarding the incident involving MT Skylight, which occurred approximately five nautical miles north of Khasab Port in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Certain media reports have referred to the vessel as being registered under the flag of Palau,” PSR said. “The vessel was removed from the Palau registry in January 2026 in accordance with the Registry’s established compliance procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.”
The registry emphasized that MT Skylight was no longer under Palau’s flag at the time of the reported attack.
According to publicly available information cited in the statement, 20 crew members were on board the vessel. Four seafarers sustained injuries and were transferred ashore for medical treatment.
PSR expressed concern for the injured crew members and their wellbeing.
The clarification comes as Palau continues efforts to strengthen oversight of its maritime registry. In previous reporting by Island Times, the government acknowledged performance issues within the Shipping Registry and temporarily assumed management to address compliance and operational concerns.
More recently, management of the registry was reassigned to a private manager as part of broader reforms aimed at improving regulatory performance, international confidence and adherence to maritime standards.
The Palau Ship Registry said the removal was carried out under established compliance procedures and regulatory requirements, signaling that the decision followed due process under applicable maritime rules.
While distancing the nation from the vessel, PSR reiterated its concern for the injured seafarers and acknowledged the seriousness of the incident in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive waterways.
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