Falsely flagged container vessel detained in Denmark as authorities await certification

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) told Riviera that 2003-built Nora was detained because it was not correctly registered. Nora was at anchor and had therefore interrupted its passage, the authority added.

“The ship stated the Comoros as its flag state. The Comoros has informed the Danish Maritime Authority that the ship was not registered in its registry,” DMA said.

Equasis data shows the vessel was operating under a false Comoros flag. This mirrors the case of tanker Grinch, which was seized by France but later released following a fine paid by the owners for failing to justify its flag.

Kpler senior risk and compliance analyst Dimitris Ampatzidis noted on social media that since December, authorities in the US, UK, France, and India have taken similar actions.

“The message is clear: flag risk is now an enforcement trigger, not an administrative detail,” he said. “Flag validity, registry confirmation, and documentation integrity are now frontline risk indicators for port entry.”

DMA added that a port state control inspection of Nora revealed no significant safety deficiencies. According to the authority, the ship has since changed to the Iranian flag.

“The ship is detained until a flag state provides documentation to the Danish Maritime Authority that the ship is registered and fully certified,” DMA said, noting that the detention will be maintained for the time being.

Equasis data also shows that the vessel underwent a name change from Cerus last October. UAE-based Reel Shipping and Argun Shipping are listed as the vessel’s manager and owner, respectively.

According to Reuters, Cerus has been designated under the US Office of Foreign Assets Control Iran sanctions programme.