The Guyana Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has condemned the illegal use of the country’s flag after the United States seized a sanctioned oil tanker falsely claiming Guyanese registration in international waters off the coast of Venezuela.
In a statement, MARAD said U.S. authorities notified Guyana on Wednesday that they had intercepted the Motor Tanker SKIPPER (ex-ADISA), IMO 9304667, which was not registered in Guyana despite flying the nation’s flag.
“Today, the Government of the United States of America informed the Guyana Maritime Administration Department that they have encountered the Motor Tanker SKIPPER… It was falsely flying the Guyana Flag, as it is not registered in Guyana,” MARAD said.
The agency condemned the act and stressed that it would continue collaborating with international partners to address “the unauthorized use of the Guyana Flag.” MARAD added that it has observed “the proliferation and unacceptable trend” of vessels fraudulently operating under Guyana’s flag.
The seizure was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said authorities had taken control of “a very large tanker” off Venezuela’s coast. Reuters later reported that the action sent global oil prices higher and escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas.
