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2 Fla. Coastal L.J. 175 (2000-2001)
The Seizure of the Russian Tanker, Volganeft 147

handle is hein.journals/fclj2 and id is 185 raw text is: Florida Coastal Law Journal THE SEIZURE OF THE RUSSIAN TANKER, VOLGANEFT 147 Russell Huseman Question Presented: The United States recently seized a Russian oil tanker suspected of transporting oil from Iraq. What was the legal justification for U.S. action? What was Russia's position? What was the ultimate disposition and how was the decision made? THE INCIDENT U.S. military spy satellites uncovered numerous shipments of crude oil leaving the Iraqi port of Shatt al Arab. The tankers traveled along the Iranian coast then set out into international waters. On February 2, 2000, a United States Naval cruiser, USS Monterey, stopped, boarded and subsequently diverted a Russian tanker, VolgaNeft 147, as it entered international waters. The tanker was suspected of smuggling Iraqi oil - a violation of United Nation's sanctions against Iraq. The Russian tanker was diverted to Oman and the oil subsequently tested to determine its origin. The crude gas tested positive as Iraqi crude and was off-loaded into Omani storage tanks and later sold. Cargoes seized for violating the sanctions are normally sold on behalf of the United Nations.' The Russian tanker and its crew were free to leave following the off-load of its cargo.- BACKGROUND On August 2, 1990, Iraq used military force to invade Kuwait and announced its intentions to annex Kuwait. The same day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 660 which, in substance, condemned Iraq's action and called for Iraq's immediate withdrawal from Kuwait.3 On August 6, 1990, the Security Council passed Resolution 661 by ' Oman Invites Bids for Russian Tanker's Cargo and Iraqi Oil Exports Proceeding Smoothly' U.N. Sanctions Body Reports, CNN ONLINE (visited Feb.25, 2000) < http://cnn.com/2000/WORLD/meast/02/13/russian.tanker.reut/>. 2 See generally Russian Freighter to Offload Oil in Oman The tanker and its Crew Accused by the U.S. ofSmuggling Crude from Iraq Wdl Be Allowed to Go Free, a Moscow Ambassador Says, LOS ANGELES TIMES, Feb. 8, 2000, available in 2000 WL 22008844; Increased Smuggling of Iraq Oil is Lining Saddam Hussein's Pockets, Navy Says, STAR-TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER OF THE TWIN CITIES, Feb. 10, 2000, available in 2000 WL 6959608; AnwarFaruqi, Iraq Sneaking OutA lotMore Oil, Feb. 13,2000, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, available in 2000 WL 4280138. 1 See U.N. SCOR, 54th Sess., 2932ndmtg. at 1, U.N. Doc. S/RES/660 (1990), UNITED