U.S. SEIZES TWO RUSSIAN-FLAGGED TANKERS THEN SELLS THEM FOR SCRAP
The United States has sold two sanctioned Russian-flagged oil tankers seized earlier this year to a Dubai-based ship recycler, and their next destination will not be another oil route.
It will be the scrapyard.
According to Reuters, the vessels Era and Lileo were sold last month to Global Marketing Systems, a Dubai-headquartered ship-recycling company. They are expected to be dismantled at ship-breaking yards in India.
Both ships had histories tied to sanctioned oil trade. The Era, previously known as Marinera and Bella 1, was seized by U.S. Coast Guard and special forces near Iceland after previously evading a U.S. blockade targeting Venezuelan oil exports. Washington said it had also transported sanctioned Iranian oil. The Lileo, which had operated under several previous names, was seized in the Caribbean and had been sanctioned over links to Russia.
There is also a broader reason these ships are ending their careers this way. Reuters previously reported that many vessels operating in sanctioned “shadow fleets” are aging, poorly insured or lacking normal safety certification, creating growing environmental and maritime risks. Global Marketing Systems’ CEO had described some of these ships as effectively “ticking time bombs” that needed to be removed from the water.
So, to add a little humor:
The United States captured the ships, looked them over, and apparently decided there was only one sensible upgrade left — turning them into razor blades.