NIMASA disowns Supertanker seized by US over alleged crude theft

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has distanced Nigeria from a Supertanker, Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), SKIPPER, seized by the United States Coast Guard over allegations of stolen crude oil, insisting that the vessel is neither Nigerian-flagged nor registered with the agency.

NIMASA’s clarification followed widespread media reports describing the vessel as Nigerian-owned.

In a statement issued by Edward Osagie, its Head of Public Relations on Saturday, the agency confirmed that while the vessel sailed into Nigerian waters at some point in 2024, its purported owners, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, are unknown to NIMASA and are not registered as a shipping company with the agency.

Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of NIMASA, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to international cooperation in maritime security, stressing that criminality would not be tolerated in Nigerian waters.

He said the agency would collaborate fully with U.S. authorities and other stakeholders in ongoing investigations into the vessel’s activities.

“The attention of the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been drawn to media reports stating that the United States Coast Guard, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, intercepted a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) SKIPPER with IMO Number 9304667, alleged to be Nigerian-owned and involved in crude oil theft and other transnational crimes.

“NIMASA wishes to put it on record that the VLCC SKIPPER is not a Nigerian-flagged vessel, and its purported owners, Thomarose Global Ventures Limited, were not registered with NIMASA as a shipping company”, the statement read.

According to NIMASA, analysis from its Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence (C4i) Centre showed that the vessel was last sighted in Nigerian waters on July 1, 2024.

“After leaving Nigeria, the tanker continued its international operations, moving through the Arabian Sea and later into the Caribbean, where it was eventually intercepted by U.S. authorities.”, it added.

The agency also added that records indicated the vessel, formerly owned by Triton Navigation Corp, had undergone multiple name changes over time, a practice often associated with attempts to obscure ownership and operational history.

“Further checks revealed discrepancies surrounding the vessel’s alleged ownership.

“Investigations showed that the registered corporate address of Thomarose Global Services at 111 Jakpa Road, Effurun, Warri, Delta State, was non-existent, with no such company operating at the location.

“Independent vessel-tracking data obtained by Vanguard detailed a complex movement pattern.

Read also: US intercepts Nigerian-owned supertanker over alleged oil theft and piracy

“Between August 13, 2024, and January 29, 2025, the SKIPPER was sighted around Kharg Island near Iran. It subsequently moved to Singapore between January 29 and March 8, 2025, before operating around Sri Lanka and Kharg Island again from March 8 to July 6, 2025. From July to mid-August 2025, the vessel shuttled between Kharg Island and Hong Kong”, NIMASA revealed

Reports further indicated that from August 13 to November 14, 2025, the tanker transported crude oil to China from the José Terminal in Venezuela. It was last sighted at the José Terminal on November 14, shortly before its interception by U.S. authorities.

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