Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Veronica

On January 21, 2023, the tanker 'Galileo' was spotted anchored off the beautiful coast of Ponce, Puerto Rico, located at coordinates 17° 54' N 066° 35' W. This location served as a temporary docking point for the 'Galileo' as it shared the waters with another vessel, the 'M Sophia.' The 'M Sophia' had made headlines earlier when it was seized on January 7 by the US Coast Guard and military forces operating in the Caribbean Sea. The tanker, considered stateless and part of a sanctioned dark fleet, was in transit with an impressive cargo of approximately two million barrels of Merey crude oil, which had been loaded in Venezuela when it was captured. As plans unfolded for the potential return of 'M Sophia' to Venezuelan authorities, the rationale for this decision remains shrouded in uncertainty. For further details, you can access the full report with accompanying visuals at https://gcaptain.com/u-s-handing-over-seized-tanker-to-venezuela/

On January 15, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard successfully boarded the tanker 'Veronica' in the Caribbean Sea, marking the sixth seizure of a sanctioned vessel by American forces. The operation, supported by U.S. Marines and sailors from the USS 'Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)', unfolded seamlessly thanks to a Coast Guard tactical unit’s expertise, as confirmed by spokesperson Noem. The 'Veronica', identified as flying the Guyanese flag, had departed from Venezuelan coastal waters and was last tracked on January 3 while anchored off Aruba, north of Venezuela’s primary oil terminal. At that time, it was reported to be partially loaded with crude oil. The vessel is part of a notorious shadow fleet conducting oil shipments in defiance of U.S. sanctions. Formerly known as the 'Gallileo', it has ties to a Russian management company and has been associated with previous illicit oil transport activities. Notably, the tanker carries a registration number linked to its former names, including 'Pegas' and 'Lana', and was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for transporting illegal Russian oil. Greek authorities seized the vessel back in 2022 due to its involvement in moving sanctioned oil from both Russia and Iran. For further details, check the full report with media coverage at https://news.usni.org/2026/01/15/u-s-forces-seize-venezuela-linked-tanker-veronica and view the operation video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXLyGM11rjc.

The Iranian-flagged tanker 'Lana' has made its way to Syrian shores, successfully completing its journey with approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil onboard. This vessel was initially detained on the island of Evia on April 15 and has been navigating under the Iranian flag since August 2. It took on its cargo at Sirri Island before proceeding to its latest destination. Notably, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) was turned off on November 21, just west of Baniyas port, as the 'Lana' approached for unloading.

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of Greece has once again undermined the United States' attempts to confiscate Iranian crude oil aboard the tanker 'Lana', which is currently docked in Piraeus. On July 26, the court announced its decision to uphold a previous ruling made in June, which mandated the return of the oil cargo to the tanker claimed by Iran as part of its fleet. For over three months, 'Lana' has been embroiled in a complex legal dispute that highlights the tensions surrounding Iranian oil exports. The situation escalated in April when U.S. officials sought approval from Greek courts to seize the cargo, which was originally aboard the vessel known as 'Pegas' at the time of anchoring near Evia. Reports from the Iranian watchdog group UANI flagged the tanker, revealing it was loaded with approximately 700,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil in August 2021. After reportedly facing mechanical issues while navigating the Mediterranean, the tanker underwent a change of identity, rebranding itself as 'Lana' and displaying an Iranian flag. Despite its rebranding, some sources continue to link the vessel to Russian ownership. The U.S. had imposed sanctions on 'Lana' due to its alleged involvement in Iran's oil sector long before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, prompting them to pursue the vessel under accusations of breaching international sanctions on Iranian oil trade. Following an initial court victory, U.S. authorities chartered two additional tankers to facilitate the oil transfer to Texas. While the first vessel, 'Ice Energy', completed the transfer in June, subsequent legal challenges halted further proceedings before the second tanker could begin its operations. Last week, the owners of both tankers appealed to the Greek Supreme Court, expressing their predicament caught between U.S. enforcement efforts and Greek court orders to release the oil. Since early July, both 'Lana' and 'Ice Energy' have remained at anchorage, though 'Ice Energy' may soon re-initiate the transfer of oil back to 'Lana'. Meanwhile, Greek officials have sought to clarify the distinction between this ongoing case and Iran's seizure of two Greek tankers in the Persian Gulf, which Tehran has publicly acknowledged was a retaliatory measure for the U.S. actions concerning the oil from 'Lana'. It is widely speculated that any potential release of the two Greek tankers is contingent on the successful transfer of oil back to 'Lana'.

The Greek authorities have maintained the detention of the tanker 'Pegas,' which has been under seizure since April 20. Originally flying the Russian flag, the vessel has undergone a flag change to Iranian in a strategic maneuver aimed at circumventing EU and US sanctions related to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, and is now officially known as 'Lana.' The shift in flag is part of an attempt to facilitate exports from Russia. The tanker, crewed by 19 Russian nationals, was first detected by Greek officials on April 8, leading to its seizure under existing EU anti-Russian restrictions. Although the vessel was initially released when its new owner, TransMorFlot LLC—a Russian shipping firm—was not listed under sanctions, the situation shifted dramatically on May 8 when the US State Department imposed new sanctions specifically targeting maritime entities connected to Russia, including TransMorFlot LLC. As a consequence, all 16 vessels owned by the company have been blocked. Maritime service providers, including insurance companies offering coverage for potential liabilities such as environmental damage from fuel leaks, accidents at sea, and personal injuries, have ceased operations with the vessel under these complicated circumstances. Consequently, the tanker remains inactive and unable to perform any operations.