US Military Boards Third Sanctioned Tanker in Indian Ocean
United States military forces have successfully boarded a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea as part of ongoing efforts to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela. The Pentagon announced the operation on Tuesday, confirming that US Southern Command executed a "right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding" on the tanker named Bertha overnight.
Tenth Interdiction Under Trump Administration
This marks the tenth oil tanker interdiction by the Trump administration since the practice began in early December. Notably, this represents the third vessel seized in the Indian Ocean rather than the Caribbean or North Atlantic regions. According to Southern Command's post on X, "The vessel was operating in defiance of President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade. From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it."
Bertha's Complex History and Current Status
The Bertha presents a complex case of maritime deception. Originally flagged to the Cook Islands when placed under US sanctions related to Iran, the vessel was more recently listed under a false flag of the Caribbean island of Curacao and managed by a company in China, according to shipping information system Equasis. A US official speaking anonymously confirmed that, like previous boardings in the Indian Ocean, the Bertha was not formally seized but placed under US control, with its fate to be determined by agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and State Department.
Venezuelan Oil Sanctions and Shadow Fleet
Venezuela has faced US sanctions on its oil for several years, leading to the development of a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers smuggling crude into global supply chains. President Donald Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December to pressure authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro before his apprehension in January during an American military operation. Following Maduro's capture, at least 16 tankers fled the Venezuelan coast according to maritime tracking data.
Tracking the Last Remaining Tanker
Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, reported that his organization used satellite imagery and surface-level photos to document the ships' movements. The Bertha was identified as the sole remaining tanker to pursue from the original 16 that fled Venezuela. In a February 15 post on X, TankerTrackers.com confirmed this status, with Madani later revealing to The Associated Press that the Bertha was laden with 1.9 million barrels of crude oil. Over recent years, the ship has reportedly received Iranian crude from other vessels via hoses for deliveries to China.
Broader Strategic Context
Trump's Republican administration has been systematically seizing tankers as part of broader efforts to take control of Venezuela's oil resources. The Pentagon released video showing US Navy military helicopters taking off from an identified ship and flying toward the tanker during the operation. While the Pentagon's announcement didn't specify whether the Bertha was formally seized, officials confirmed the vessel is now under US control. Maduro, who was brought to the US to face charges of working with drug cartels to facilitate cocaine shipments, has pleaded not guilty to all allegations.
