economy
diciembre 22, 2025
El País de España
Buscar el rastro del buque Skipper, interceptado el pasado día 10 por Estados Unidos frente a la costa de Venezuela, es seguir la pista a un pedazo de la industria ilegal del petróleo. En un solo carguero navegaban muchos de los actores y prácticas de un comercio ilícito que mantiene el grifo del crudo abierto allí donde […]
TL;DR
- The U.S. intercepted the tanker Skipper, highlighting the illegal oil trade and sanctions evasion tactics employed by a "ghost fleet."
- The "ghost fleet" consists of old vessels that use deceptive practices like false flags, spoofed GPS, and turned-off transponders to hide their activities.
- These ships are used for illicit oil trade, but also for smuggling stolen grain and war scrap metal.
- Russia, Venezuela, and Iran are key players in this shadow economy, with an estimated 3,300 vessels in the ghost fleet contributing significantly to global oil flows.
- Ukraine has launched attacks on Russian oil tankers and infrastructure to disrupt Russian war financing and gain control of maritime routes.
- These attacks, often involving sophisticated methods like placing explosives on hulls, are likely state-sponsored by Ukraine.
- The U.S. has also been intercepting tankers in the Caribbean, citing efforts against drug trafficking financed by Venezuelan oil.
- The ghost fleet operates through opaque corporate structures, constantly changing names and flags to avoid detection and accountability.
- Attacks on Russian vessels have intensified, particularly in the Black Sea, with Ukraine claiming responsibility and aiming to block illegal Russian trade.
- Russia has implemented new security measures, including requiring FSB permission for ships entering its ports, due to these maritime battles.