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The Maritime Administration Department of Guyana (MARAD) said a crude oil tanker seized off the coast of Venezuela on December 10 was "falsely flying" Guyana's flag in international waters.

A post on MARAD's Facebook page at 9.04 pm said that MARAD observed the "proliferation and unacceptable trend" of the unauthorised use of the Guyana flag by vessels not registered in Guyana.

"Today, the Government of the US informed the Guyana MARAD that they have encountered the Motor Tanker SKIPPER (ex-ADISA), IMO Number 9304667, in international waters. It was falsely flying the Guyana flag, as it is not registered in Guyana," the statement said.