Discover the Bertha: Ratings & Maritime News

In a significant enforcement operation, the United States has seized another oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, marking the third such capture within a short timeframe. The interception occurred on February 23, 2026, against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny on maritime activities. The latest vessel, identified as 'Bertha' (IMO: not provided), was apprehended while navigating off the coast of the Maldives. This tanker was reportedly in breach of quarantine measures imposed on sanctioned vessels operating in the Caribbean, attempting to evade detection. Tracked from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, US forces acted decisively, bringing the 'Bertha' to a halt. At the moment of interception, the tanker was laden with approximately 1.9 million barrels of crude oil. Notably, the 'Bertha' was the last of at least 16 oil tankers that departed the Venezuelan coastline following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, utilizing alternative routes to weave into global hydrocarbon supply chains. This Cook Islands-flagged tanker is operated by the Shanghai Legendary Ship Management Company Ltd. and has been on the US sanctions list since 2024 due to its involvement in the illicit transport of Iranian oil—a situation that has reportedly been ongoing since at least 2022. The vessel has previously sailed under the alias 'Monica S,' in conjunction with two other tankers managed by the same company. For further insights and updates, you can find more details with accompanying multimedia on the following links: - [NRC News](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2026/02/24/amerikanen-enteren-opnieuw-olietanker-in-indische-oceaan-a4921367) - [TVA Nouvelles](https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2026/02/24/un-autre-petrolier-sanctionne-capture-par-larmee-americaine-dans-les-caraibes) - [X Platform](https://x.com/i/status/2026267884226494954)

Following the seizure of the tanker 'Veronica' (IMO: 9256860) on January 15, which closely resembled previously confiscated vessels linked to Venezuela, the spotlight has shifted to the tanker 'Bertha', along with several others flagged as potentially at risk. 'Bertha' exhibits an alarming maximum AIS gap of 274 days and shows signs of elevated Ship-to-Ship (STS) activity as well as dark STS operations. Among the other vessels of concern are the 'Vesna' (IMO: 9233349), which has reported spoofing instances of 5, a high-risk STS score of 10, and dark STS activity rated at 15. Another vessel, the 'Veronica III' (IMO: 7338595), displays moderate spoofing, along with heightened STS and dark STS behavior. The 'Lydya N' (IMO: 9153525) also raises concerns with a spoofing score of 6 and dark STS activity gauged at 10. These identified tankers share common troubling characteristics, such as deceptive AIS behavior, unauthorized offshore loitering, and abrupt activity resumptions, which align with historical enforcement patterns. Notably, AIS spoofing has emerged as a pivotal red flag, while extended gaps in AIS reporting coupled with dark/STS activities serve as parallel enforcement triggers. The analysis reveals that among 19 vessels linked to Venezuela that have recently departed from offshore or non-anchorage zones amid the existing US naval blockade, seized tankers exhibited similar behavioral patterns over the last five months. Seizures predominantly occurred when multiple risk factors converged, rather than due to a single regulatory violation. The seized tankers spoofed almost twice as much as their non-seized counterparts (4.2 vs 2.21), with four of the confiscated vessels showcasing particularly high spoofing intensity, including three severe outliers. Moreover, these vessels demonstrated increased exposure to high-risk port calls, revealing operational vulnerabilities that escalate enforcement risks. In stark contrast, the ambiguity of a vessel's flag did not serve as a significant differentiator in these cases.

The Cook Islands Maritime Authority has raised alarms regarding the tanker known as 'Bertha', which has been illegally utilizing Cook Islands identifiers despite its deregistration in November 2024. In a statement released on January 7, 2026, officials noted, "It appears that Bertha is continuing to use Cook Islands identifiers (MMSI 518999103 and Call Sign E5U5084) in her AIS transmissions. This deceptive practice enables the vessel to falsely claim registration with the Cook Islands on commercial tracking platforms." This tanker, which operated under the Cook Islands flag for nearly nine months in 2024, is among at least 16 vessels implicated in attempts to bypass U.S. sanctions in Venezuela. Recently, the 'Bertha' has been found by U.S. authorities in the Caribbean, operating under the alias 'Ekta'. Its most recent recorded position near the Gulf of Guinea dates back to December 23, 2025. Notably, the 'Bertha' was sanctioned for its involvement in transporting Iranian crude oil in December 2024—just weeks after being de-registered by the Maritime Cook Islands. The case of the 'Bertha' aligns with a broader trend involving numerous Cook Islands flagged vessels collaborating with Russia's shadow fleet, which has been identified as partaking in illicit trades of Russian and Iranian crude oil. These vessels often engage in deceptive practices, manipulating their location signals through AIS transmissions, such as spoofing their positions and broadcasting false identities.