The United States Coast Guard, working with the US Navy, has seized a Nigerian-owned supertanker, Skipper, over allegations of crude oil theft, piracy and other transnational crimes.
The 20-year-old VLCC, reportedly managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., was found illegally flying the Guyanese flag. Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department said the vessel “is not on its national registry,” confirming it had been using the country’s flag without authorisation.
US authorities said the tanker is also under investigation for suspected hard-drug trafficking and links to an international money-laundering network. Maritime experts in Nigeria described the episode as evidence of weak Port State Control, with Engr. Akin Olaniyan warning it “suggests our Port State Control is practically non-existent.”
Several industry groups and regulators said they were still verifying the vessel’s ownership as NEITI data showed Nigeria lost $3.3bn to crude theft in one year.