Panama Says Flag Of US-Seized Oil Tanker Was Cancelled Last Year

Panama’s maritime authority has said it cancelled the flag of the Venezuela-linked oil tanker M Sophia in January 2025, nearly a year before the vessel was seized by the United States military this week.

The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) said on January 8 that the tanker’s Panamanian registration was withdrawn on January 23, 2025.

The clarification came after the US military’s Southern Command announced that it had intercepted the vessel before dawn on January 7, describing it as a stateless and sanctioned tanker operating as part of a so-called dark fleet.

According to the US military, the tanker was not flying a recognised national flag at the time of the interception.

US authorities have said that vessels without a valid flag may be considered stateless under international law, which can allow them to be boarded or seized.

The AMP also addressed the status of another tanker seized on the same day. It said the Bella-1, which the US described as Russian-flagged at the time of seizure, had previously been listed on Panama’s shipping registry.

However, the authority confirmed that the vessel’s Panamanian registration ended on October 7, 2024.

The Bella-1 was seized by US forces near Iceland after what was reported to be a pursuit lasting almost two weeks. The seizure appeared to be one of the first recent cases in which the US military has taken control of a tanker linked to Russia.

Specialized capabilities. Global impact. An unstoppable joint force.

Alongside @DeptofWar, @USCG conducted a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Bella I this morning in the North Atlantic. Following a sustained shadowing effort across the Atlantic by Coast Guard Cutter… pic.twitter.com/xEmFkh4xLO

— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) January 7, 2026

Maritime officials say that a ship’s flag shows which country has legal authority over it. US authorities have stated that when a ship’s registration is cancelled, it can lose protections under international maritime law.

Panama’s maritime authority did not give further details on why the vessels were removed from its registry.

The January 7 seizures were reported to be the third and fourth tanker interceptions by the United States since December, following the interception of two other vessels late last year.

Senior Venezuelan officials have accused the United States of trying to take control of the country’s oil resources, which are widely considered the largest in the world.

However, US President Donald Trump said earlier this week that the United States had reached an agreement with the successor government to Nicolás Maduro on crude oil exports.

Maduro was reportedly captured by US forces during a pre-dawn operation in Caracas, after which US authorities warned of further military intervention unless Venezuela opened its oil sector to US companies.

Reference: Reuters

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