U.S. Seized Three Tankers Tied to Sanctioned Oil
The U.S. government took control of vessels using ship-to-ship transfers to circumvent sanctions.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Between December 2025 and February 2026, the U.S. seized three oil tankers carrying crude from Iran and Venezuela. These vessels used deceptive practices to bypass global trade restrictions.
Why it matters
These enforcement actions disrupt the logistics of illicit crude, increasing compliance risks for firms involved in international shipping and maritime operations. The seizures highlight the government's focus on disrupting the 'shadow fleet' supporting sanctioned regimes.
The U.S. government seized three oil tankers between December 2025 and February 2026, including the Skipper, which carried 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan-origin crude.
The players
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
An Iranian military branch heavily involved in the nation's energy sector and international oil trade.
Petróleos de Venezuela
The state-owned oil and natural gas company of Venezuela, currently subject to extensive international sanctions.
Justice Department
The U.S. federal executive department responsible for enforcing laws, including international sanctions against maritime oil smuggling.
The details
The seizures were executed via judicially authorized warrants targeting ships operating outside standard transparency norms. Vessels like the Skipper utilized false flags and location spoofing, while others like the Marinera disabled tracking transponders to conduct ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned oil. These operations specifically aimed to disrupt the revenue streams supporting Petróleos de Venezuela and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Timeline
December 10, 2025: The tanker Skipper was seized on the high seas.
January 7, 2026: The tanker formerly known as Bella 1, later renamed Marinera, was seized.
February 24, 2026: The tanker Bertha was boarded in the Indian Ocean.
Market Landscape
These seizures follow an established pattern of U.S. enforcement targeting the shadow fleet used to move crude for sanctioned regimes. The action extends the long-standing sanctions regime against Iran and Venezuela by specifically dismantling their maritime supply chains.
Operators in maritime logistics should perform enhanced due diligence on vessel histories to avoid entanglement with blacklisted fleets. Managing exposure to entities utilizing ship-to-ship transfers is critical for maintaining compliance in the current regulatory environment.
The takeaway
The seizure of these vessels underscores the high cost of utilizing shadow-fleet logistics to bypass trade barriers. Businesses should audit their supplier transparency and maritime insurance protocols to ensure they are not inadvertently linked to assets under federal investigation.
Further reading
For more on the operational risks facing global energy shipping, visit the Oil and Gas section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
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