U.S. Seizes A Shadow Fleet Super Tanker off Venezuela | The Skipper Has Been Arrested!

U.S. Seizes the Skipper
December 11, 2025

In this episode, Sal Mercogliano — a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the arrest of the stateless Very Large Crude Carrier Skipper off the coast of Venezuela by the United States for carrying Venezuelan and Iranian oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

#skipper #sanctions #venezuela #iran #tanker

Support What's Going on With Shipping via:
Patreon: www.patreon.com/wgowshipping
Twitter: @mercoglianos
Bluesky: @mercoglianos.bsky.social
Facebook: @wgowshipping
Email: mercoglianosal@gmail.com

00:00 Introduction
02:02 Information about MT Skipper and the Shadow Fleet
08:47 Sanctioned Tankers Worldwide
10:31 Military Operations Around Venezuela
11:24 What Comes Next?

Marine Traffic
www.marinetraffic.com

Seasearcher
www.seasearcher.com

Tanker Trackers
https://tankertrackers.com/

U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuela in Coast Guard-Led Operation
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-seizes-oil-tanker-off-venezuela-in-coast-guard-led-operation-u-s-officials-say/

U.S. Tanker Seizure Puts 30+ Sanctioned Vessels in Venezuela on Notice
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-tanker-seizure-puts-30-sanctioned-vessels-in-venezuela-on-notice/

UANI Calls U.S. Seizure of Sanctions-Dodging SKIPPER a ‘Warning Shot’ to Iran’s Shadow Fleet
https://gcaptain.com/uani-calls-u-s-seizure-of-sanctions-dodging-skipper-a-warning-shot-to-irans-shadow-fleet/