Taiwan introduces stricter controls on high-risk ships
Taiwan is stepping up its campaign to block “high-risk” or poorly regulated vessels from its waters, Splash 247 reports. The government is updating its Law of Ships to allow fines of up to NT$10 million for operators whose vessels fail to provide accurate identification or transmit proper AIS signals. The move is part of a broader push to strengthen maritime security.
Taiwan now requires all ships entering its territorial waters to keep AIS activated with correct information. Vessels must also display their name and IMO number openly, without obscuring or modifying the markings. Ships over 150 tons must maintain a precise logbook while navigating Taiwanese waters.
Another rule introduced this autumn obliges all commercial callers to show valid P&I coverage. Insurance must come from an International Group club, a Taiwanese insurer, or a BBB-rated underwriter. Authorities say nearly all visiting tonnage already complies, but ships that do not may be forced to lodge a deposit or face refusal of entry.
These updates follow several years of tighter governance aimed at preventing aging or suspicious vessels from damaging subsea cables or obscuring ownership structures. Taiwan has increased safety inspections, targeted vessels over 20 years old, and cracked down on falsified AIS data. Customs officers have been given expanded powers to board vessels with questionable identities.
New filing requirements have also been imposed on ships from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and several African registries. Background checks and security reviews now extend the approval process to nearly a month for some vessels.
The measures come after a series of incidents involving cable damage from ships dragging anchors and attempts by vessels to change their identity easily. One such ship, the Togo-flagged Hongtai 68, reportedly swapped steel nameplates to operate under multiple aliases, prompting local media to call it the “thousand-faces ship.”
In parallel, U.S. analysts warn that China’s military is increasingly using civilian roro and cargo ships for amphibious training. Recent exercises involved unloading vehicles directly onto beaches, bypassing port facilities – a sign that dual-use civilian shipping remains a growing strategic concern.
