VIDEO: U.S. forces board sanctioned tanker M/T Davina

Photo: INDOPACOM

Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Davina, located in the Indian Ocean within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility.

“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” said INDOPACOM. “International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors. The Department of War will continue to deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”

The M/T Davina is sanctioned by OFAC and has a long list of behaviors typical of shadow fleet operations.

Meantime, the U.S. continues its blockade of Iranian ports, with CENTCOM saying today that U.S. forces have redirected 129 commercial vessels and disabled 6 to ensure compliance