The United States government has released video footage depicting the seizure of a crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The US stated the tanker was involved in transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran, alleging it supported "foreign terrorist organizations." Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil characterized the seizure as "international piracy" and asserted that the US sought Venezuela's energy resources.
Operation Details
- US President Donald Trump confirmed the seizure, describing the tanker as "the largest one ever seized."
- Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that a seizure warrant was executed by a joint operation involving the US Coast Guard, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of Defense.
- A senior military official informed CBS News that the vessel had recently departed a port in Venezuela.
- The operation involved two helicopters, 10 Marines, 10 US Coast Guard members, and special operations forces.
- The US Coast Guard's Maritime Security and Response Team, trained in counterterrorism and high-risk law enforcement, led the boarding.
- The USS Gerald Ford, identified as the world's largest warship, was utilized as a staging post for the operation.
The Vessel
- Maritime risk company Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Skipper.
- Vanguard Tech reported the ship had been "spoofing" its position, broadcasting a false location, and had previously sailed under the names Toyo and Adisa.
- The Skipper measures 333m (1,092 ft) in length and 60m wide, classified as a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC).
- Vanguard Tech stated the vessel is considered part of the "dark fleet," a term for ships used to smuggle sanctioned goods, and was sanctioned by the US for carrying Venezuelan oil exports.
- Reports from TankerTrackers.com and Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA indicated the ship departed the Jose oil port around December 4 or 5, carrying approximately 1.8 million barrels of heavy crude oil. An estimated 200,000 barrels were reportedly transferred to another vessel before the seizure.
- The US Treasury Department sanctioned the Skipper in 2022 for alleged involvement in oil smuggling that generated revenue for Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.
- MarineTraffic data showed the vessel last updated its position two days prior to the seizure, sailing under the flag of Guyana.
- Guyana's Maritime Administration Department issued a statement denying the Skipper was registered in Guyana, stating it was "falsely flying the Guyana Flag."
- MarineTraffic data, which may be incomplete due to spoofing, indicated the vessel was near Iran in mid-September before reaching the coast of Guyana in late October.
The Seized Oil
- US President Trump stated, "We keep it, I guess... I assume we're going to keep the oil," when asked about the cargo.
- If the vessel contains 1.6 million barrels after the reported transfer, and crude oil trades at approximately $61 per barrel, the oil's estimated value could exceed $95 million. The BBC has not independently verified the exact quantity of oil on board.
- Attorney General Bondi affirmed that the tanker had been sanctioned by the US for "multiple years" due to its alleged role in an "illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations."
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the US of using its military presence in the Caribbean and "war on drugs" to attempt to depose him and control Venezuela's oil resources. The US has denied these accusations.
- Venezuela possesses the world's largest known crude oil reserves; however, these are largely "heavy" and highly viscous, requiring specialized equipment for extraction. Ageing infrastructure and US sanctions have reportedly impacted Venezuela's capacity to monetize these resources.