Detained Oil Tanker Near Venezuela Exposes Shadow Fleet Role in Iranian Crude Transfers

Oil tanker detained by US forces off the coast of Venezuela has once again highlighted the activities of the so-called shadow fleet, after evidence confirmed its involvement in transporting Iranian crude earlier this year.

Vessel-tracking data show that the oil tanker, known as Skipper and sanctioned by Washington since 2022, carried out two ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil, with the cargoes destined for China.

The oil tanker was reportedly loaded with Merey crude, commonly used in bitumen production and typically exported to the Chinese market, before later appearing to load Venezuelan oil.

The vessel displays typical characteristics of the shadow fleet, including the use of false flags, frequent name changes, and opaque ownership structures, making its operations difficult to trace.

Analysts say the incident underscores increased US scrutiny of sanctioned oil flows, as aging tankers continue operating outside regulatory frameworks despite being due for scrapping.