The U.S. seizure of the tanker 'Skipper' on Dec. 10 has focused attention on a global network of roughly 1,000 'ghost ships' that move sanctioned oil by changing names, using shell companies, disabling transponders and conducting at-sea transfers. Officials say the action could be the start of a broader U.S. campaign to cut off oil revenues to Venezuela, Iran and Russia. Earlier enforcement, such as Germany's seizure of the tanker Eventin carrying about 99,000 tons (~$45M) of Russian oil, underscores the international scope of the issue.
U.S. Seizes Tanker 'Skipper' — 'Ghost Ship' Fleet Faces New Crackdown
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the U.S. will keep the oil from the seized tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
On Dec. 10, U.S. authorities seized the tanker 'Skipper', a move that has put a covert fleet of so-called 'ghost ships' used to move sanctioned oil squarely in the spotlight.
What Are 'Ghost Ships'?
Analysts estimate roughly 1,000 tankers participate in a shadowy network that moves crude from sanctioned suppliers such as Russia, Iran and Venezuela. These vessels often sail under foreign flags, change names repeatedly, register ownership through shell companies, turn off automatic identification systems (AIS) to avoid tracking, and perform ship-to-ship transfers at sea to disguise cargo origins and destinations.
A view of the tanker "Eventin" off the coast of the German island of Rügen. The vessel was previously reported to be transporting crude oil originating from Russia.
Why The Seizure Matters
The Skipper interception signals a tougher enforcement posture by the U.S. administration. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the vessel is "undergoing a forfeiture process," and that investigators are interviewing individuals on board and securing evidence as authorities pursue legal steps to seize the oil.
"I do think it's time that the United States and other countries start to address what really is a global problem," said Benjamin Jensen, director of the Futures Lab at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Jensen and other experts say the action could be more than an isolated enforcement action: it may be the opening move in a broader campaign to choke off oil revenues that sustain the regimes in Caracas, Tehran and Moscow. Because Venezuela's economy is heavily dependent on oil income, even a single interdiction can have an outsized economic and political effect.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was questioned about the U.S. seizing an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
Global Context
The move comes as China remains the leading importer of Iranian oil and one of the largest buyers of Russian crude—volumes that are often moved via nondescript tankers trying to evade U.S. sanctions. Earlier this year, German authorities seized the 19-year-old tanker Eventin after engine failure revealed it was carrying about 99,000 tons of Russian oil, an amount valued at roughly $45 million.
As enforcement intensifies, industry observers warn that shipping routes, intermediary brokers and the web of shell companies will remain difficult to dismantle, and that follow-up actions and international coordination will determine whether the seizure of the Skipper has lasting impact.
