Skipper Tanker Capture Seen as Warning to Russia and Other 'Shadow Fleet' Operators

The United States captured the oil-laden tanker Skipper off the coast of Venezuela on December 10, prompting a sharp increase in global freight rates. The operation, conducted under a US Coast Guard court order citing sanctions, was recorded on video showing armed special forces rappelling onto the tanker from helicopters.

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Oil transportation

Trump Confirms Potential Retention of Oil

President Donald Trump stated that the United States might retain the seized oil, a position later clarified by his spokesperson as contingent upon compliance with legal procedures. The seizure coincided with an expanded US military presence in the region and a series of strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in at least 84 fatalities since September.

"The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure as a shameless act of theft and international piracy, a deliberate plundering of the country's energy resources,” stated Caracas officials.

Experts View Seizure as Strategic Warning

Russian financial expert Igor Yushkov commented for Pravda.Ru that the US ignores international law, operating solely under domestic legislation. He called the seizure "essentially piracy” and noted that similar tactics have been used against Iranian oil, with ships and cargo subsequently sold at specialized auctions.

Yushkov suggested the action sends a message to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and also serves to worsen the country's economic situation. Freight rates for Venezuelan Merley crude have doubled, while exports to Cuba dropped by 35% this year. Western analysts interpret the event as a warning to other "shadow fleet” operators, including Russia, which transports diluents to Venezuela.

Legal Recourse and International Implications

Legally, shipowners can challenge seizures under international maritime law. The German Federal Finance Court, for instance, blocked the confiscation of the tanker Eventin earlier this year, citing transit rights and the right to emergency port access. Similarly, the Nigerian company Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd. and Venezuelan state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) retain the right to contest the Skipper seizure through international courts.

"International law still protects freedom of navigation, and owners can challenge arbitrary confiscations,” Yushkov emphasized.

Amid heightened tensions, Russian Foreign Minister Serguei Lavrov demanded that the US explain its military actions near Venezuelan waters, accusing Washington of unilateral conduct. Observers note that Russia has not responded as decisively to similar incidents involving its tankers in the Black Sea, with no UN Security Council sessions convened.