Priority Broadcast Alert – Caribbean

UPDATE02: Ambrey observed video footage of the seizure released by the United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The footage showed a helicopter lowering a team of US forces, carrying small arms, onto the deck of the vessel. The team subsequently approached the bridge, and gained control of the vessel. At 21:55 UTC, the vessel began transmitting an AIS signal, which placed it 24 NM southeast of Grenada.
UPDATE01: Ambrey understands that the vessel is an unflagged tanker which has been sanctioned by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control since 3 November 2022. The vessel was sanctioned under Executive Order 13224, which pertains to the funding of entities linked to terrorism, due to the controller’s alleged links to Iran. The vessel’s last AIS transmission was at 06:32 UTC on 8 December, 96 NM northeast of Georgetown, Guyana. Ambrey assessed it likely that the vessel was engaging in AIS spoofing at the time of the transmission. According to an industry source, the vessel’s last recorded port call was on 14 November at the Jose Terminal, Venezuela. The vessel is assessed to be likely linked to a Venezuelan-Iranian nexus. ADVICE: Shipping transiting the area is advised to be aware of spoofing, and to report any suspicious behaviour.
A sanctioned tanker was seized by the United States military off the coast of Venezuela. This marks the first US military action against a merchant vessel in the Caribbean Sea since the start of operations in the region in August 2025. Ambrey assessed the situation as ongoing and will provide updates as new information becomes available.
ADVICE: Vessels transiting through the EEZ of Venezuela are advised to exercise heightened vigilance to increased naval and law-enforcement activity. Vessels are advised to comply with any directions issued by military or coast guard units.