U.S. Forces Board Sanctioned Tanker Bertha in Indian Ocean and Capture Three Fleeing Boats Following Trans-Ocean Pursuit

CARIBBEAN TO INDIAN OCEAN - U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the sanctioned crude oil tanker Bertha without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.

​ The vessel operated in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine on sanctioned vessels linked to Venezuelan oil exports and attempted to evade after departing Caribbean waters. This boarding continues the campaign against shadow fleet vessels transporting illicit Venezuelan and Iranian oil.

Vessel Profile

​ The Bertha (IMO 9292163) is a large crude oil tanker managed by Shanghai Legendary Ship Management Company Limited. It was previously flagged to the Cook Islands, with registration canceled on November 25, 2024.

The vessel continued transmitting Cook Islands identifiers and has been subject to U.S. sanctions since December 3, 2024, for its role in transporting illicit Iranian petroleum. It was one of 16 tankers that attempted to break through a U.S. naval blockade on January 3, and was the last remaining oil-laden vessel from that group.

Assessment: The vessel’s sanctions history and continued operation under de-registered identifiers illustrate common evasion tactics employed by shadow fleet operators. Tracking such vessels across ocean basins requires sustained intelligence and naval resources, raising the operational costs and risks for participants in these networks. This pattern forces operators to accept higher insurance premiums and limited crewing options, with observable effects in reduced vessel availability across tracked routes.

Interdiction Operation

The Department of War stated, “From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it.” The three support or escape boats were captured during the operation. No injuries or escalation occurred.

Assessment: The successful long-range pursuit demonstrates the ability to maintain persistent surveillance and execute boardings far from initial departure points. This capability limits the effectiveness of evasion routes that rely on distance and multiple ocean transits. If similar operations maintain current tempo, operators face compounding risks that reduce overall fleet viability, with early signals visible in changes to AIS activity and flag registrations.

• Department of War, February 24: “Three boats ran and now all three have been captured. Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Bertha without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. The vessel was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade. From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it. No other nation has the global reach, endurance, or will to enforce sanctions at this distance. International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned actors. By land, air, or sea, our forces will find you and deliver justice. The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”