US Special Forces Seize Iranian-Linked Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast
The United States had previously put the vessel on the sanctions list for participating in oil trade for the Quds Force of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Skipper tanker, which sailed under a false flag and transmitted false information about its location, was seized by US Special Forces who landed on its deck from an MH-60 Seahawk military helicopter.
The seizure occurred off the coast of Venezuela on December 10, 2025. According to J. Michael Waller, senior strategy analyst at the American think tank Center for Security Policy (CSP), the tanker was registered in Panama and sailed under a false flag of Guyana (i.e., a stateless vessel) and belonged to Triton Navigation Corp in the Marshall Islands.
Shadow Fleet Operations Exposed
The Skipper tanker is part of Iran’s shadow fleet, which includes tankers used to deliver Iranian oil. According to Michael Waller, the 333-meter tanker previously sailed under the names Adisa and The Toyo. In November 2022, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Artemov and related companies and individuals, as well as 11 tankers, allegedly involved in oil trafficking originating in Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.
The funds from the trade, according to the US government, were used to support the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The seizure of the Skipper tanker is seen as a significant blow to these illegal activities, which have been ongoing for years.
Background on Triton Navigation Corp
Triton Navigation Corp in the Marshall Islands is owned by a Singapore shell company and managed by a Nigerian firm. Ultimately, it is owned or controlled by Viktor Artemov, a Ukrainian citizen living in Switzerland. Artemov operates a so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of tankers, including those used to deliver Iranian oil.
The United States is preparing to intercept more and more ships carrying oil from Venezuela. The seizure of the Skipper tanker sends a strong message that the US will not tolerate these illegal activities and will take action to stop them.
Original Article: Tanker Seized by Americans Belonged to Iran’s Shadow Fleet — Militarnyi