The vessel, formerly known as the Minerva M, is under sanctions for transporting Russian oil. The U.S. Coast Guard seized it on January 9.
Points of attention
- US Coast Guard seized the tanker Olina, previously known as Minerva M, for transporting Russian oil.
- The seizure operation took place in the Caribbean near Trinidad, highlighting efforts to enforce sanctions.
- The US military continues to monitor vessels evading the US blockade of sanctioned tankers heading to and from Venezuela.
Russian shadow fleet tanker Olina intercepted by US Coast Guard
The US Coast Guard seized the tanker Olina in the Caribbean near Trinidad.
It is noted that the US military has boarded the oil tanker and continues to monitor other vessels that have attempted to circumvent the US blockade of sanctioned tankers heading to and from Venezuela.
This is the fifth such interception of vessels in recent weeks as part of an operation to control the export of Venezuelan oil.
According to sources, the Olina tanker had previously sailed from Venezuela and returned to the region when the US launched a seizure operation on January 9.
The vessel, previously known as the Minerva M, was subject to US sanctions for its involvement in transporting Russian oil.
According to GUR data, during the period of the G7+ oil embargo, the tanker was involved in the export of Russian oil/oil products from Russian ports in the Baltic, Black Seas, and the Pacific region, mainly to China, India, and Turkey.
The U.S. Coast Guard previously conducted two operations that resulted in the detention of the sanctioned tankers Bella I and Sophia. Both vessels were last docked in or headed to Venezuela.
