The maritime industry remains concerned by the increasing presence of shadow fleets - used to circumvent international sanctions on oil exports from nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela - using vessels often with unclear ownership, flags of convenience or deceptive shipping practices in order to evade these sanctions and generate illicit revenue streams. Such vessels erode global enforcement efforts while providing lucrative revenue streams that support illicit economies like Venezuela or Russia.
U.S. Coast Guard Intercepts Tanker Skipper
On December 10, 2025, a U.S. Coast Guard boarding team seized control of the bridge aboard the very large crude oil tanker Skipper off the coast of Venezuela. The operation marked the culmination of a three-year enforcement effort targeting the vessel's role in transporting U.S.-sanctioned oil, thereby bankrolling the regimes in Iran and Venezuela.
Published reports from December 11 detail how the Skipper, a key player in sanctions evasion networks, was finally apprehended after years of evading detection. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) praised the action, with Chairman Governor Jeb Bush and CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace issuing a joint statement emphasizing the need for such interdictions to curb terror-financing oil wealth.
Mercogliano highlighted this seizure in a December 11 video analysis, emphasizing its significance in combatting shadow fleet operations that skirt U.S. sanctions.
Shadow Fleet Challenges in Context
While the Skipper incident represents a tangible enforcement success, analyses from the period reiterate the persistent threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet. Operating in regions like the eastern Mediterranean, Gulf of Oman, and off West Africa, these vessels conduct ship-to-ship transfers near chokepoints such as the Turkish Straits to obscure sanctioned oil cargoes destined for China and India.
Utilizing techniques such as disabling AIS transponders and employing flags of convenience such as those from Cook Islands, Russia's fleet has managed to avoid G7 oil price caps imposed post-2022 Ukraine invasion. This allows Russia to fund its war efforts while engaging in criminal activities with irregular warfare tactics, including potential involvement in undersea cable damages in European waters.