The U.S. government has seized the oil tanker Skipper after detecting that it deliberately disabled its location tracking and sailed to ports in Iran and Venezuela, violating international sanctions. The vessel's actions raise concerns about illicit energy trade networks.
- The oil tanker Skipper was seized by U.S. authorities in November 2025
- It disabled its AIS system and transmitted false location data between August and November 2025
- Satellite records show visits to Bandar Abbas, Iran (August 14, 2025) and La Guaira, Venezuela (October 3, 2025)
- The vessel’s owner, Atlantic Maritime Holdings Ltd., is registered in the Marshall Islands
- The seizure is tied to violations of IEEPA and the Iran Sanctions Act
- Over 120 vessels have been identified using spoofing tactics in 2025, with increasing links to sanctioned states
The U.S. Department of Justice has taken custody of the 25,000-dwt oil tanker Skipper following an investigation into its suspicious maritime behavior. Authorities discovered the vessel transmitted falsified Automatic Identification System (AIS) data between August and November 2025, including periods when it operated with its transponder turned off entirely. This deliberate concealment of position is a known tactic used to evade detection by global monitoring systems. The Skipper is linked to a network of vessels suspected of facilitating the transport of crude oil from sanctioned nations. Satellite and maritime tracking data indicate the vessel visited the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on August 14, 2025, and the Venezuelan port of La Guaira on October 3, 2025—both locations under U.S. sanctions-related restrictions. The ship's last known position before seizure was in the Caribbean Sea near the Dominican Republic on November 27, 2025. The seizure marks one of the most detailed enforcement actions against a vessel using electronic spoofing to circumvent sanctions. The Skipper’s owner, a company registered in the Marshall Islands under the name Atlantic Maritime Holdings Ltd., is now under scrutiny. U.S. officials have initiated legal proceedings to forfeit the vessel, citing violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iran Sanctions Act. The move signals heightened U.S. enforcement of energy-related sanctions, particularly targeting maritime routes used by Iran and Venezuela. Industry observers note that similar spoofing techniques have been observed in over 120 vessels in 2025, with a growing number linked to state-backed or shadow fleets. The seizure could prompt stricter monitoring protocols and more rigorous vessel vetting by global shipping registries.