On Saturday, the Panama-flagged tanker Centuries was seized carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil, a move condemned by China. The seizure was the latest in the President Donald Trump’s vow to block tankers carrying Venezuelan oil. Maritime experts say the move may have relied on a legal authority that suggests more seizures will be coming, and potentially target more oil intended for the Chinese market.
According to Dimitris Ampatzidis, senior risk and compliance analyst at Kpler, the seizure of the Panama-flagged Centuries may have been conducted under the 2002 Salas-Becker agreement, which allows U.S. authorities to board Panamanian-flagged vessels with just two hours’ notice. “The most interesting part of the Centuries seizure is the suggestion of the U.S. likely relying on its prior boarding agreement with the Panama Maritime Authority,” said Ampatzidis, adding that the use of this agreement can lead to additional seizures.
