Image for representation purposes only Eighteen major maritime nations have warned that growing differences in shipping rules are creating a separate part of the global fleet that operates outside normal safety, insurance and transparency standards. The warning came in a joint statement issued Tuesday by the Consultative Shipping Group (CSG), an informal group of maritime authorities from 18 countries. The group represents more than a fifth of global trade by tonnage. More than 80% of world trade is carried by sea, making a stable shipping system important for global supply chains and the wider economy. The CSG said shipping has faced repeated disruptions in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, drought in the Panama Canal and the U.S.-Iran war. The situation in the Middle East has added to those problems this year. Fighting and blockades around the Strait of Hormuz have made the waterway a major pressure point for global shipping. Oil and other commodities, including fertilizers, have become more expensive as a result. One of the CSG’s main concerns is the growing number of ships used to get around international sanctions. Many of these vessels operate without the insurance, safety checks and transparency normally expected in international shipping. The group warned that this is creating two different parts of the shipping industry. One follows established rules, while the other operates with fewer safeguards. That can create problems when something goes wrong. The case of the Caroline Bezengi is one example. The vessel, described as part of the shadow fleet, was carrying about 800,000 barrels of Russian crude when it hit a limpet mine off Oman this summer. The ship did not have traditional protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance. As a result, no insurer stepped forward to pay for the cleanup. The Omani government has largely been left to cover the cost. The gap in insurance has grown since 2022, when Western P&I clubs be