United States Launches Program to Legitimize Dark Fleet Tankers
The United States government is implementing a process to convert illicit dark fleet tankers into legitimate vessels to lower shipping costs and reduce market volatility.
The Government of the United States is implementing a new process to convert ships from the dark fleet into legitimate vessels. These tankers have previously transported illicit oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to evade international sanctions.
Under the initiative, the U.S. is not lifting sanctions on the fleet but is allowing legitimate businesses to purchase these ships. To qualify, buyers must agree to operate the vessels legally and carry only non-sanctioned oil. The ships must undergo a formal approval process and adopt a business model that strictly excludes the transport of illicit cargo.
Officials stated the goal of the program is to increase the global supply of shipping vessels, which would help address high shipping costs and current market volatility. The government described the effort by stating, "We're converting dark tankers to legitimate."
