India's 'Ghost Oil Tankers' Worry Security Agencies: A Triple Threat to Coastline

• Security agencies are concerned over India's growing "shadow fleet" of risky, aging oil tankers operating close to the country’s coastline.
• These "ghost oil tankers" pose a triple threat: catastrophic environmental spills, maritime collisions, and sudden domestic price shocks.
• Ships use deceptive tactics like disabling AIS, opaque shell-company ownership, "flags of convenience," and ship-to-ship transfers to bypass sanctions.
• Many tankers are 15-30 years old, prone to mechanical failures; lack of insurance means India bears cleanup costs in case of disaster.
• Geopolitical risks include US criticism, potential secondary sanctions, and domestic fuel price spikes; India-based firms managing these ships tarnish global standing.