The United States government is set to transfer a sanctioned oil tanker, the M/T Sophia, which was detained earlier this month in the Caribbean Sea, back to Venezuelan authorities. This marks the first known instance under the Trump administration where a detained Venezuelan-related vessel is being returned to its original country.
According to two unnamed U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday, January 28th, the specific reasons for the decision to transfer the tanker have not been disclosed by the U.S. side, and it is unclear whether the vessel currently still carries oil.
The Sophia is a Panama-flagged supertanker intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and military on January 7th. At the time, the U.S. stated that the ship belonged to a “stateless, sanctioned shadow fleet tanker” and was transporting crude oil.
In recent months, the U.S. has been increasing its efforts to seize vessels related to Venezuela’s oil trade. Since the end of last year, at least seven tankers have been intercepted and detained.
The U.S. Coast Guard, in charge of leading these operations, has yet to respond to media requests for comments on this latest development. Earlier, the Sophia and another detained tanker were spotted anchored near Puerto Rico.
Maritime and insurance industry experts point out that most oil tankers subjected to Western sanctions or classified as “shadow fleet” vessels are typically more than 20 years old, lacking necessary safety certifications and insurance coverage, posing risks to maritime security. In the event of collisions or oil spills, pursuing relevant insurance claims and liability is almost impossible.
According to reports, the Dubai-based ship recycling company GMS has applied to the U.S. for permission to acquire and dismantle older vessels seized by the U.S. government in connection with Venezuelan oil transactions.