How Cook Islands-Flagged Ships Became Part of the Hidden Global Oil Trade

The Pacific island nation of the Cook Islands has become an unlikely nexus for oil tankers caught up in the global trade of sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil. This secretive network, known as the "dark fleet," involves over 100 tankers sailing under the Cook Islands' flag, attracting increasing concern from governments around the world.

New Zealand’s diplomatic channels were recently stirred as countries like Finland and the UK raised alarms. The use of Cook Islands-registered vessels for illicit oil trading has sparked outrage, with Foreign Minister Winston Peters calling the situation both “alarming and infuriating.”

But how exactly did this happen? What connects the Baltic Sea to a small Pacific archipelago, and how has the international community allowed this shadowy trade to flourish?

The key lies in the flag system that governs international shipping. Just as a car needs a license plate to drive on the roads, ships require flags to navigate the seas. Each flag state, including the Cook Islands, determines the legal framework under which ships operate, from the safety regulations to the conditions of their crew members.

In an exclusive report, investigative journalist Matt Nippert revealed how a crude oil tanker, the Eagle S, became the focus of international scrutiny after its anchor damaged an undersea cable linking Estonia to Finland on Christmas Day 2024. The incident led to the vessel’s arrest and its crew being charged with sabotage. This event became a diplomatic flashpoint, prompting urgent calls between European capitals and New Zealand officials to explain the involvement of the Cook Islands.

Further investigations revealed that the size of the Cook Islands' maritime fleet had grown considerably, with its involvement in oil trading now a serious concern. Nippert’s deep dive into the story exposes the economic and diplomatic implications for New Zealand, a small Pacific nation with big geopolitical ties.