U.S. Forces Board Sanctioned Tanker Bertha In Indian Ocean
U.S. forces boarded the Cook Islands-flagged Bertha, tracked from the Caribbean, which TankerTrackers.com said carried 1.9 million barrels of crude.
PBS NewsHourU.S. military boards third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean
FOX NewsUS forces interdict another fugitive tanker ship in Indian Ocean
ABC NewsUS military boards third oil tanker in Indian Ocean after tracking it from Caribbean
Associated PressUS military boards third oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean
Overview
U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the tanker Bertha overnight in the Indian Ocean, U.S. Southern Command said.
The Bertha was tracked from the Caribbean after leaving Venezuela's main oil port in early January following the U.S. military operation that apprehended Nicolás Maduro, according to tracking sources and U.S. statements.
Video posted by the Pentagon shows U.S. military helicopters flying toward the Bertha, and the Pentagon did not state whether the vessel was formally seized or placed under U.S. control.
TankerTrackers.com said the Bertha was the only tanker left to pursue from at least 16 that fled the Venezuelan coast and that it was laden with 1.9 million barrels of crude.
The action follows President Trump’s December quarantine of sanctioned oil tankers and continued interdictions, including the interception of the Veronica III on Feb. 15, the Pentagon said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a justified U.S. law-enforcement and military effort targeting illicit Venezuelan oil, emphasizing operational success and sanction legitimacy. They use evaluative labels (e.g., “authoritarian”), foreground Pentagon and TankerTrackers accounts, and give little space to Venezuelan or independent legal perspectives, shaping a results-focused narrative.
FAQ
The Bertha (IMO 9292163) is a Cook Islands-flagged crude oil tanker with a length of 330.25 meters and width of 60.05 meters.[2]
The Bertha was sanctioned in December 2024 for transporting Iranian crude oil, less than a month after deregistration by Maritime Cook Islands, and is part of the shadow fleet involved in illicit oil trade.[1]
TankerTrackers.com reported the Bertha carried 1.9 million barrels of crude oil, tracked from Venezuela's main oil port after fleeing the coast.[3]
U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit and boarding in the Indian Ocean; the Pentagon video shows helicopters approaching but did not confirm seizure or placement under U.S. control.[3]
It follows President Trump’s December quarantine of sanctioned oil tankers, including the interception of the Veronica III on Feb. 15, targeting vessels in Venezuela and Iran's shadow fleet evading sanctions.
Yes, the tanker likely loaded Venezuelan oil in circumvention of U.S. sanctions at Puerto Jose and was tracked from the Caribbean after leaving Venezuela.
