Ship Seized by US in December Prepares to Unload Venezuelan Oil

March 1, 2026, 10:49 PM UTC

A sanctioned oil tanker seized by US forces is getting ready to discharge its crude nearly three months after being captured on its way to Cuba.

The supertanker, Skipper, is preparing to transfer its cargo to another ship off the coast of Texas, according to vessel movements tracked by Bloomberg. The other ship, PVT Poseidon, is maneuvering alongside the Skipper to position itself for the transfer, the data shows.

The Skipper, in white, and the PVT Poseidon are positioning themselves for an oil transfer.
Source: Bloomberg

The US government seized the Skipper Dec. 10, citing its involvement with Iran’s and Venezuela’s oil sectors. The Trump administration filed a forfeiture claim Feb. 27, moving to effectively take ...

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