The Latest Ship Accused of Damaging Cables Off Taiwan Had a Simple Way of Changing Identity
Taiwanese authorities have detained a cargo ship suspected of damaging a crucial undersea communications cable connecting Taiwan to its outlying Penghu Islands. The vessel, identified as the Togo-flagged Hongtai 68, has raised serious security and maritime concerns due to its ability to change its identity with alarming ease.
A Ship of Many Faces
Taiwan’s coast guard intercepted the Hongtai 68 and its Chinese crew last week, following suspicions that the ship was responsible for cutting the vital communication link. Investigators revealed that the vessel had previously operated under different names, including Hongtai 58 and Shanmei 7. Rather than undergoing a formal renaming process, the crew simply replaced three steel plates at the bow and stern of the ship, swapping its name at will. This simple yet effective tactic has earned the vessel the nickname “the thousand faces ship” in local media.
This incident is not the first time the ship’s captain has been caught engaging in suspicious activities. On a previous occasion, he was apprehended attempting to enter Taiwan with falsified documents, raising further concerns about the vessel’s operations and intent.
A Pattern of Deception
The Hongtai 68 incident is part of a broader pattern of maritime deception, not only in Asia but also across the world. In Europe, ships linked to Russia have been engaged in similarly questionable tactics to obscure their identities. However, their methods are often far cruder than the systematic plate-switching seen in Taiwan.
Yörük Işık, a well-known maritime observer who tracks ships passing through the Bosporus, has documented dozens of cases where vessels have had their original names, and even their official International Maritime Organization (IMO) numbers, painted over.
Russia’s ‘Slapdash’ Approach to Shadow Ships
Unlike the precise steel plate replacements used by the Hongtai 68, many Russian-linked vessels take a more haphazard approach. According to Işık, ship names are often sloppily repainted in different sizes, crooked angles, or even by crew members unfamiliar with Latin lettering.
“There are more and more homemade efforts to write names, ridiculously small, crooked, or written by people who are not familiar with Latin letters,” Işık told Splash last year.
Such crude attempts to disguise ship identities violate IMO regulations, which require all registered vessels to display their names and IMO numbers clearly. However, enforcement of these rules remains inconsistent, particularly in areas with limited oversight.
Taiwan’s Crackdown on Suspicious Vessels
Following the recent incidents of cable sabotage, Taiwan has taken proactive steps to tighten its maritime security. In January, the island blacklisted 52 Chinese-owned ships operating under so-called “flags of convenience.” These ships, often registered under countries with lax regulatory oversight, have been linked to previous instances of misreporting vessel information and engaging in suspicious maritime activities.
One notable case involved the Shunxin 39, a Cameroon-registered cargo ship, which was identified as the prime suspect in an earlier incident of undersea cable damage. In response, Taiwan’s National Coast Guard Administration has stepped up surveillance of vessels in its waters, particularly those that have previously been flagged for deceptive practices.
Enhanced Security Measures
Taiwan’s National Security Bureau has outlined stricter monitoring protocols for ships that have a history of misreporting their identities. These measures include priority inspections at ports and increased surveillance of ships that enter within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan’s coastline.
Additionally, if any vessel is found operating suspiciously near undersea communication cables, the coast guard will be dispatched to board and investigate. These efforts aim to protect Taiwan’s critical infrastructure and prevent future disruptions caused by rogue ships.
A Growing Threat to Global Maritime Security
The case of the Hongtai 68 underscores the growing threat posed by vessels that employ deceptive tactics to avoid detection. The ability to change names so easily highlights the gaps in international maritime enforcement, particularly when it comes to monitoring ships that operate under flags of convenience.
The broader implications extend beyond Taiwan, as similar tactics are being employed by Russian-linked ships in Europe and elsewhere. The ongoing challenge for global maritime authorities is to enhance enforcement measures and ensure that vessels adhere to international regulations.
For Taiwan, the stakes are particularly high. As tensions with China continue to escalate, the island remains vulnerable to covert maritime activities that threaten its critical infrastructure. The Hongtai 68 incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in safeguarding undersea communication networks and maintaining the integrity of maritime operations in the region.
