U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker, ‘Skipper’ Headed to Houston
The United States has seized the supertanker Skipper, carrying approximately 1.85 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil, as part of a heightened strategy to pressure the government of President Nicolas Maduro. The vessel is now en route to Houston, Texas, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The move sharply escalates tensions between Washington and Caracas, signaling a more aggressive approach to disrupting Venezuela’s oil exports. The seizure underscores the U.S.’s commitment to enforcing sanctions against the Maduro regime.
Cargo Transfer Planned Near Houston
The Skipper, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), is carrying Venezuela’s heavy Merey crude. Satellite imagery analyzed by TankerTrackers.com confirms the cargo’s origin and volume. However, the tanker is too large to directly enter the Port of Houston and will instead anchor offshore for a ship-to-ship transfer, the sources added. This process will involve offloading the crude onto smaller vessels capable of navigating the port’s channels.
Neither the U.S. Coast Guard (specifically the Houston-Galveston section) nor the Port of Houston immediately responded to requests for comment regarding logistical preparations for the transfer.
Legal Justification and Flag Dispute
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated this week that the tanker was intercepted and detained under a valid seizure warrant. Simultaneously, authorities in Guyana have alleged that the Skipper was falsely flying the country’s flag, raising questions about attempts to conceal the vessel’s identity and origin.
Expanding Enforcement Efforts
According to sources, Washington is actively preparing to intercept additional ships suspected of carrying Venezuelan oil. This suggests a broader campaign to curtail the Maduro government’s primary source of revenue. The implications of this expanded enforcement are significant, potentially further destabilizing Venezuela’s economy and exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA, which sold the cargo, did not respond to a request for comment.
This seizure represents a significant escalation in the U.S.’s economic pressure campaign against Venezuela, and further action appears imminent.
