Shadow fleet tanker seized by US once sailed under Isle of Man flag

The vessel, now operating as Olina, was formerly registered in Douglas as British Mallard and later linked to sanctions breaches involving Venezuelan oil

The latest tanker to be seized by American forces in a pre-dawn raid in the Caribbean was once registered on the Isle of Man Ship Registry, under a different name.

The 114,800 ton dead weight 'Olina' was boarded by the US military off Trinidad, and doesn't appear to be linked to any flag state.

She's thought to have been on sanctions blacklists in the US, UK, Australia and EU 

The vessel had previously operated under the Manx flag bearing the name 'British Mallard' with her home port listed as Douglas.

She's also sailed under the names Minerva M and Magnus.

It's alleged the 'Olina' is part of the so-called shadow fleet of tankers, which have been shipping Venezuelan oil in breach of international sanctions.

During her time registered with the Isle of Man Ship Registry as the British Mallard she was the subject of an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau after the vessel's electrical technician died during work to repair an elevator shaft on 27 January 2007.

It was resolved that critical safety procedures had not been implemented.