US Seizes Tanker in Venezuela Sanction Efforts
A fleet of so-called “ghost ships” that evade international sanctions has reportedly come to the forefront after the U.S. government seized a tanker carrying Venezuelan crude oil.
On December 10, the Trump administration announced the capture of the Skipper, a vessel that had been covertly transporting oil against sanctions.
This clandestine fleet, made up of around 1,000 tankers, operates in global shipping routes, moving oil from sanctioned nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
The U.S. plans to take significant measures to intercept millions of dollars worth of Venezuelan oil following the seizure, as mentioned by the White House.
These “ghost ships” often sail under various foreign flags to mask their origins, frequently change their names, use shell companies for ownership transfers, disable tracking devices, and utilize maritime transport methods to hide their cargo.
This complicated arrangement has led to a series of concealed voyages and transfers.
Benjamin Jensen from the Center for Strategic and International Studies highlights that the challenges posed by this issue go well beyond Venezuela. “I think it’s necessary for the United States and other nations to really address these global problems,” he said.
Jensen pointed out that this incident has shocked various stakeholders, and how they are responding behind the scenes is still uncertain. He suspects that under the Trump administration, more seizures may be in the pipeline.
Venezuela’s economy heavily relies on oil revenue, so any embargo can have significant consequences. “Any actions that make it difficult for them to trade oil pose a direct threat to both the economy and the regime,” he added.
The Trump administration appears to view the seizure of the Skipper as the start of a broader initiative aimed at cutting off oil revenues that support Moscow, Tehran, and Caracas.
Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirmed that the vessel was “in the process of being forfeited.” She stated that a full investigation team is now on-site and has gathered evidence, mentioning that the U.S. would secure the oil once legal processes are completed.
This move coincides with China’s role as the leading importer of Iranian oil and a significant purchaser of Russian crude, with much of this supply transported by discreet tankers to avoid U.S. sanctions.
Earlier in the year, a 19-year-old oil tanker called Eventin was seized by German authorities after experiencing engine trouble in the Baltic Sea. This vessel had already been linked to transporting Russian crude oil and other petroleum products, with a shipment worth around $45 million discovered on board.
