The Digest:
A Nigerian-owned supertanker has been seized by US authorities over alleged crude oil theft, piracy, and transnational offenses. According to reports, the vessel was illicitly flying the Guyanese flag and is linked to a Nigerian firm now listed as inactive.
Key Points:
- US Coast Guard and Navy seized the supertanker "Skipper" over crude theft and piracy allegations
- Vessel owned by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures, registered to a Marshall Islands entity
- The tanker was illegally flying the Guyanese flag at the time of interception
- US authorities suspect links to drug trafficking and Iran-backed money laundering networks
- Nigerian maritime experts say seizure reveals weaknesses in Nigeria’s Port State Control
- NEITI recently reported that Nigeria lost 13.5 million barrels worth $3.3bn to theft in one year
- NIMASA stated it has no official information yet on the incident
When a vessel sails under stolen colors, it carries more than crude; it bears the weight of a system’s vulnerabilities. This seizure exposes not just a ship, but the open waters where regulation, enforcement, and accountability are still navigating the storm.
Sources: Vanguard, The Guardian, The ICIR
