TankerTrackers.com reported in an X post within the past 30 minutes ending at 2:46 AM UTC on December 22 that an empty very large crude carrier (VLCC) supertanker under U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions approached Venezuela after crossing two oceans with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off for 6-7 weeks, having notified clients 38 hours ago. The vessel was visually identified by TankerTrackers.com while in transit, with the post stating such operations exemplify the 'Dark Fleet' due to sanctions for prior Iranian oil transfers, according to the X update at https://x.com/TankerTrackers/status/2002919017426624768. This development occurs amid U.S. Coast Guard pursuits of other sanctioned tankers off Venezuela's coast, including the Iranian-linked M/T Bella 1 which refused boarding and fled earlier on December 22, as reported by U.S. officials to the New York Times in prior coverage.
