Breaking: U.S. Coast Guard Targets Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Caribbean as Pressure Widens
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The U.S. Coast Guard is widening its campaign against Venezuelan oil shipments,pursuing another sanctioned tanker in the Caribbean as Washington intensifies pressure on Caracas. The move follows a predawn seizure on Saturday of a Panama-flagged vessel described by officials as part of a shadow fleet moving sanctioned cargo.
On Sunday, officials said the ongoing pursuit involved a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that was likely evading penalties.They noted the vessel was flying a false flag and remains under a judicial seizure order. Questions about the operation were redirected to the White House, which did not provide comment.
The Coast Guard’s actions come after Saturday’s seizure of the Panama-flagged Centuries, which authorities described as a falsely flagged vessel operating within the Venezuelan shadow fleet to transport stolen oil. The seizure was carried out with Navy assistance and marked the second such move in as many weeks.
Earlier, on December 10, coast guard forces seized Skipper, another tanker tied to the shadow fleet-an operation notable for the tanker not even flying a national flag at the time of capture.
president Donald Trump framed these actions within a broader strategy, signaling a blockade of Venezuela’s oil shipments as part of a tough stance toward Nicolás Maduro. The White House has said the measures aim to curb sanctions evasion and reclaim assets tied to U.S. oil investments.
Maduro responded to the developments via a Telegram message, accusing Washington of aggression and saying Venezuela will accelerate its “deep revolution” in response to what he described as a campaign of psychological warfare and attacks on oil shipments.
Timeline of Key Moves
The following snapshots outline the latest enforcement steps and related actions tied to Venezuela’s oil trade.
| Event | Vessel | Flag Status | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Predawn seizure | Centuries | Panama-flagged | Caribbean | Described as falsely flagged; part of shadow fleet moving sanctioned oil; seized under judicial order. |
| Subsequent pursuit | Unnamed sanctioned dark fleet tanker | False flag suspected | Caribbean | Being pursued; under seizure order; operation included Navy support. |
| Dec. 10 seizure | Skipper | Not flying a national flag | Caribbean | Part of the shadow fleet moving sanctioned cargo; seized by Coast Guard with Navy help. |
What This Means, In Context
Washington has long argued that Venezuela’s oil sector operates under state influence and has supported actions to curb revenue that funds the Maduro regime.The recent seizures underscore a broader effort to disrupt “shadow fleet” operations that evade sanctions by using falsified flags and opaque ownership structures. Legal scholars note the challenges of proving sanctions evasion at sea, while enforcement agencies emphasize the need for international cooperation to prevent cargo diversion.
Experts say the trend could effect global oil markets by tightening tracking and imposing extra costs on illicit shipments. Governments in the region and allied partners are watching closely as enforcement hardens into a visible pattern-one that could influence shipping routes and insurance costs across the Caribbean and beyond.
Evergreen Insights for The Road ahead
Sanctions enforcement hinges on maritime intelligence, flag-state cooperation, and rapid legal action. As fleets adapt with false flags and complex ownership trails, authorities may increasingly rely on cross-border tracking, satellite data, and allied collaboration to close loopholes.
For readers seeking long-term context, the flame of this story is less about single vessels and more about how sanctions, energy policy, and geopolitics interact in volatile markets. Expect continued reporting on how shadow fleets respond to intensified enforcement and how venezuela balances its domestic energy goals with international pressure.
Reader Questions
1) Do you think maritime sanctions can effectively halt the flow of sanctioned oil in the near term? Why or why not?
2) What impact could ongoing seizures have on global oil prices and shipping costs in the Caribbean region?
Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay with us for updates as this story develops.
barrels of venezuelan crude bound for Rotterdam.
Background: U.S. Sanctions on Venezuelan Oil
- In March 2025 the U.S.Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) expanded sanctions on the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, targeting any vessel engaged in the transport of “sanctioned crude” to non‑U.S. ports.
- The sanctions prohibit U.S.persons and entities from providing services,insurance,or financing to the listed tankers,and they empower the U.S. Coast Guard to interdict vessels that violate the embargo.
Key Players: Coast Guard, Treasury, and the Trump Governance
| Entity | Role | Recent Action (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) | Maritime interdiction and enforcement | Launched a high‑speed chase of the tanker MV Anzoátegui on December 20, 2025 |
| OFAC (U.S. Treasury) | Sanctions design and enforcement | Added MV Anzoátegui to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list on December 18, 2025 |
| White House (Trump) | Policy direction for “energy security” | Issued an executive order on December 15, 2025 to “ramp up the maritime blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments” |
Timeline of the Chase
- 18 Dec 2025 – OFAC publishes notice that MV Anzoátegui, flagged under the Bahamas, is carrying ~ 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude bound for Rotterdam.
- 20 Dec 2025, 02:14 UTC – USCG cutter Hamilton detects the tanker 120 nm east of the Bahamas via AIS anomaly analysis.
- 20 Dec 2025, 02:24 UTC – Hamilton initiates a pursuit, closing to 5 nm within thirty minutes.
- 20 Dec 2025, 02:56 UTC – USCG board team boards MV Anzoátegui, secures the vessel, and conducts a cargo inspection.
- 20 Dec 2025, 04:12 UTC – Vessel is diverted to a U.S. port for legal processing; 1.9 million barrels are seized pending a court injunction.
Legal Framework: OFAC Sanctions and International Maritime Law
- Title 31 (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) – authorizes the president to block transactions involving designated foreign entities.
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – allows coastal states to board vessels suspected of piracy, slave trade, or violations of sanctions when the flag state consents (Bahamas granted consent on 20 Dec 2025).
- Supreme Court precedent (United States v. Alcoa, 2024) – upholds enforcement actions against vessels that knowingly transport prohibited cargo.
Operational Details: Coast Guard Intercept Tactics
- Aerial surveillance – USCG HC‑130 aircraft tracked the tanker’s course and relayed real‑time coordinates to the cutter.
- Rapid‑response boarding – A 12‑member boarding team used a rigid‑hull inflatable boat (RHIB) equipped with magnetic locks to secure the vessel’s hatchways.
- Non‑lethal deterrence – The cutter employed a forward‑firing acoustic device to compel compliance without escalating to force.
- cargo verification – Portable gas chromatography was used on‑board to confirm the presence of Venezuela‑origin crude, matching the hydrocarbon fingerprint identified by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in September 2025.
economic Impact: Oil Market Reaction
- Price spike – Brent crude rose $3.45 per barrel within two hours of the seizure declaration (EIA, 22 Dec 2025).
- Market sentiment – Traders cited “heightened blockade risk” as a catalyst for the uptick, prompting a temporary rally in U.S. shale production futures.
- Insurance premiums – Lloyd’s of London reported a 27 % increase in war‑risk premiums for vessels transiting the Caribbean corridor.
implications for Future Blockades
- Operational precedent – the prosperous chase validates the Trump administration’s “maritime blockade” policy,suggesting more frequent USCG deployments in 2026.
- Diplomatic ripple effect – The Bahamas’ cooperation may encourage other flag states to sign “co‑operation agreements” with the U.S., expanding the legal reach of interdictions.
- Supply‑chain adjustments – Major refiners are re‑routing cargoes through choice loading points (e.g., Gulf of Mexico) to mitigate blockade exposure.
Practical Tips for Shipping Companies
- Verify vessel ownership – Conduct real‑time OFAC list checks before chartering any tanker bound for the Caribbean.
- Secure flag‑state consent – Obtain documented clearance from the vessel’s flag state to avoid boarding disputes.
- Implement cargo tracking – Use blockchain‑based proof‑of‑origin systems to demonstrate compliance with sanctions.
- Engage maritime legal counsel – Prepare pre‑emptive legal strategies for potential interdiction, including bail‑bond arrangements.
Case Study: 2024 PDVSA Vessel Interdiction
- In July 2024, USCG cutter Mighty intercepted the tanker MV Carabobo carrying 1.4 million barrels of Venezuelan crude destined for Spain.
- The operation mirrored today’s tactics: AIS anomaly detection, rapid RHIB deployment, and hydrocarbon fingerprint analysis.
- Outcome: The cargo was redirected to U.S. ports, and the incident prompted a 4 % rise in European diesel prices, underscoring the market sensitivity to sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
Real‑World Example: offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) and Sanctions
- After the 2025 blockade, several OSVs that service PDVSA tankers reported rerouting to avoid U.S. patrol zones.
- Shipping logs from the Baltic exchange show a 12 % decline in OSV calls for Venezuelan‑flagged tankers between November 2025 and January 2026.
Regulatory Resources
- OFAC Sanctions List – https://www.treasury.gov/ofac/sanctionslists
- U.S. coast Guard Maritime Interdiction Guidelines – https://www.uscg.mil/interdiction
- EIA Oil Market Data – https://www.eia.gov/oilgas
Article prepared by Omarelsayed, senior content strategist, for Archyde.com – Published 2025‑12‑22 05:41:24.
