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US Moves to Seize Shadow Fleet Tanker Olina Allegedly Linked to Russia in Caribbean
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The US is in the process of seizing the Olina tanker in the Caribbean near Trinidad, marking the fifth such interdiction of vessels in recent weeks as part of Washington’s effort to tighten control over Venezuelan oil exports. This was reported by Reuters, citing two US officials, on January 9.
According to maritime data, the Olina was falsely flying the flag of Timor Leste, and had previously sailed from Venezuela before returning to the region, an industry source familiar with the matter said.
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“The vessel’s AIS (location) tracker was last active 52 days ago in the Venezuelan EEZ, northeast of Curacao,” British maritime risk management firm Vanguard said separately. “The seizure follows a prolonged pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments in the region.”
According to Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), during the G7+ oil embargo, the Olina was involved in exporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products from ports in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and the Pacific region, primarily to China, India, and Turkey.
The international environmental organization Greenpeace has classified the vessel as part of Russia’s shadow fleet of tankers, which transport Russian oil worldwide and pose significant environmental risks, HUR wrote.
The tanker has been sanctioned by multiple countries. The United Kingdom imposed sanctions on December 17, 2024, followed by the United States on January 10, 2025, and Canada on February 21, 2025. The European Union and Switzerland applied sanctions on February 24 and March 4, 2025, respectively, citing the tanker’s transport of Russian oil using high-risk, irregular shipping practices and its role in supporting Russia’s energy sector. EU sanctions entered into force on February 25, 2025.
The Olina departed Venezuela last week fully loaded with oil as part of a flotilla shortly after the US seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, and was returning to Venezuela fully loaded following Washington’s blockade of Venezuelan oil exports, the industry source added.
The move follows a series of recent US actions targeting so-called shadow fleet tankers allegedly involved in transporting sanctioned oil. Over the past week, US authorities have intercepted multiple vessels, including the Marinera (formerly Bella 1) and the Sophia, both linked to shipments of Venezuelan oil and previously sanctioned by Washington.
Previously, it was reported that the crew of the Marinera, including several Russian nationals, was facing possible prosecution under US federal law after the vessel was seized by the United States in the North Atlantic, Sky News reported on January 7, citing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
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