US Coast Guard Estimates Up to 800 “Dark Fleet” Vessels Operating Worldwide
A senior US Coast Guard officer revealed that up to 800 vessels under sanctions are operating worldwide, with only a small percentage having been interdicted. The estimate was made during a congressional hearing on February 3.
The “dark fleet” ships use various means to conceal their locations and identities, including false documents and false ownership. Rear Admiral David Barata, the Coast Guard official, stated that these vessels claim to be numbers of vessels that have already been destroyed.
US Naval Force Deployed in Caribbean
Washington has deployed a huge naval force in the Caribbean, striking boats it says are used for drug trafficking, seizing sanctioned tankers, and carrying out a stunning operation that captured Venezuela’s leftist leader Nicolas Maduro on January 3. The US Coast Guard has been actively pursuing these vessels, with seven ships having been seized so far.
Russia-Linked Ship Seized in North Atlantic
Among the vessels seized by the United States in recent weeks was a Russia-linked ship, which US forces captured in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off of Venezuela’s coast. The ship, previously known as Bella 1 and renamed Marinera, was seized on January 7 after a more than two-week-long pursuit across the Atlantic.
The US Coast Guard‘s efforts to interdict these vessels are part of President Donald Trump’s campaign to block sanctioned oil vessels heading to and from Venezuela. The campaign has seen American forces take control of seven ships so far, with Rear Admiral Barata estimating that only a small percentage of the total number of sanctioned vessels have been seized.
Despite the challenges posed by the “dark fleet” vessels, the US Coast Guard remains committed to enforcing sanctions and disrupting illegal activities in the region.
Original Article: Up to 800 ‘dark fleet’ vessels operating worldwide, says US Coast Guard — Straitstimes