U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Growing Shadow Fleet Concerns
As the newly named crude tanker Marinera made its way across the North Atlantic toward Russia, it was tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard, which had been pursuing it for more than two weeks as part of its blockade on Venezuelan oil.
During that time, the ship had changed course, changed names and changed flags, shipping databases show. The crew even reportedly hastily painted a Russian flag on the rusty hull.
But that didn’t stop the U.S. from taking control of the ship, with the help of the U.K., on Wednesday, as it was off the south coast of Iceland. U.S. officials said it was seized as part of Washington’s plan to target vessels that it deems a threat to the security and stability of the “Western hemisphere.”
Russia, which had reportedly deployed a submarine and other military vessels to the area, called it an illegal act, with one lawmaker saying it amounted to piracy.
Maritime Intelligence Experts Weigh In
Maritime intelligence experts with the firm Windward can’t recall another instance of a NATO country apprehending a Russian ship in international waters, but they expect more tankers to come under Washington’s control as it ramps up pressure on Venezuela, adding that it is possible more Russian ships could be entangled in the campaign.
“U.S. regulators are watching. More seizures are likely,” said Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a maritime intelligence analyst at Windward, a global firm headquartered in London which surveys and tracks maritime activity.
“The U.S. has shown that it is possible to interdict and to seize and to deal with tankers if they are not following international rules-based order.”
The Shadow Fleet: A Growing Concern
What is unclear however, is Russia’s potential response to the seizure, and more broadly, how it will affect the global shadow fleet, a group of vessels with opaque ownership structures that use deceptive shipping practices to circumvent sanctions.
While the size of the shadow fleet grew rapidly after Russia was sanctioned by Western countries over its invasion of Ukraine, shadow vessels have been used by Iran and North Korea for years.
The U.S. Seizures: A Pattern Emerges
Since December, the U.S. has taken control of four Venezuelan-linked tankers. Two were seized off the coast of the country in December, and two more on Wednesday.
A few hours before the Marinera was seized, the U.S. Southern Command took control of what it called a “stateless, sanctioned, dark fleet” tanker that was operating in international waters in the Caribbean Sea.
The M/T Sophia was carrying 1.8 million barrels of oil, which analysts say was likely destined for China.
According to Bockmann, the ship had a track record of deceptive practices and would often spoof or obscure its location.
She says the Marinera operated in a similar fashion and had a protracted history of trading with Iran and Venezuela since 2021. It’s believed the ship was on its way to the Russian port of Murmansk when it was intercepted.
Bockmann said the ship had been fraudulently flagged to Guyana, a country which does not have an international shipping registry. The ship was considered stateless by international maritime authorities before it was hastily re-flagged to Russia.
A Rush to be Flagged to Russia
Bockmann says over the past month, 21 dark fleet tankers, all falsely flagged, have also made the same switch to Russia.
“This nascent trend is something that has accelerated in recent weeks,” she said. “It’s a sign of how desperate these operators are to avoid detection and sanctions.”
Original Article: U.S. is targeting sanctioned Venezuela oil, but more of Russia’s growing shadow fleet could be swept up, too — Cbc