Author: La Tabla/Plataforma de Periodismo de Datos 10 DEC 2025
In a coordinated operation led by the U.S. Attorney General, security forces and military personnel seized the tanker “Skipper,” one of the largest oil tankers in the world, off the coast of Venezuela. This action was based on a federal court order due to the vessel’s prolonged involvement in a sanctioned oil transport network, which previously had connections to Iran and recent operations in Venezuelan and Guyanese waters.
Constructed in 2005 at Imabari Shipbuilding in Japan, the “Skipper” is a colossal VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier). Measuring 333 meters in length – equivalent to more than three football fields – and 60 meters wide, its cargo capacity exceeds 310,000 tons. This enables it to transport approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil, which represents a significant portion of daily exports for many oil-producing countries.
The vessel currently sails under the Guyanese flag, registered in Georgetown, and has operated under several names throughout its history, including “Adisa” until March 2024. Its management and ownership are linked to companies based in Effurun, Nigeria: Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd and Triton Navigation Corp, respectively. This structure is common in the complex network of the “dark fleet” involved in transporting sanctioned cargoes.
The legal basis for the seizure, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, traces back to pre-existing sanctions. The tanker had been included in U.S. sanctions lists years ago for its role in transporting Iranian crude. The court order executed today pertains to that long-standing illicit network, which authorities claim supports foreign terrorist organizations. While the current cargo was Venezuelan oil, ownership and operation of the tanker do not align with the Venezuelan state.
The operational context adds layers of geopolitical complexity. Reports from maritime tracking systems in late October placed the “Skipper” in the Stabroek field area, the major offshore oil development project in Guyana. Its intended initial port of destination was Georgetown, Guyana. The seizure occurs amidst escalating historical tensions between Venezuela and Guyana over the disputed Esequibo region, where the U.S. has recently bolstered its support for Guyana.
The news of the seizure immediately impacted energy markets, contributing to increased volatility and crude prices. The action instantly removed the equivalent of around 2 million barrels from circulation, injecting uncertainty into the future transport of sanctioned cargoes and straining global supply in an already sensitive market.
No One is Safe from U.S. Sanctions
The extraterritorial appropriation (or expropriation) of the Skipper tanker by the United States sets a far-reaching legal precedent. The action was executed against a foreign-flagged asset, operated by non-U.S. entities, in international waters, based solely on unilateral sanctions.
This fact turns U.S. national jurisdiction into a tool of global reach, potentially threatening any productive asset in the world, regardless of its direct links to the U.S., simply for conducting transactions with sanctioned countries.