Archive · 3 Oct 2026
US Coast Guard Intercepts Fuel Ship Bound for Cuba
The US Coast Guard says it stopped a ship called Grace in the Caribbean Sea.
Officials said the ship was carrying fuel to Cuba.
They also believed it was using methods sometimes used by ships that try to avoid scrutiny.
Coast Guard personnel boarded the ship and took it to Mexico.
Mexican Navy inspectors found a lot of fuel in its ballast tanks.
They also found containers they believed held illicit fuel.
The interception happened while the Trump administration was enforcing an oil embargo against Cuba.
Officials did not say how much fuel was aboard or exactly how they knew it was headed to Cuba.
The Coast Guard said it stopped the cargo ship Grace on September 5 in the Caribbean Sea between Cuba and Mexico.
Officials said Grace was carrying fuel to Cuba and appeared to use tactics associated with the so-called dark fleet.
A Coast Guard team boarded the vessel and escorted it to Mexico for inspection.
Mexican Navy inspectors found large quantities of fuel in ballast tanks and containers believed to contain illicit fuel.
Authorities did not disclose how they determined the fuel was bound for Cuba or how much fuel was aboard.
- Who
- The US Coast Guard intercepted the Grace; Mexican Navy inspectors examined it.
- What
- A cargo ship carrying fuel that authorities said was bound for Cuba was stopped and escorted to Mexico.
- When
- The vessel was stopped on September 5; the reports were published on October 2.
- Where
- The interception took place in the Caribbean Sea between Cuba and Mexico; the ship was escorted to Mexico.
- Why
- The Coast Guard said the ship was carrying fuel to Cuba and appeared to use tactics associated with the dark fleet.
- Vessel
- Grace
- Reported length
- 91 metres (300 feet)
- Interception date
- September 5
- Interception area
- Caribbean Sea between Cuba and Mexico
- Inspection findings
- Large quantities of fuel in ballast tanks and several containers believed to contain illicit fuel
- Undisclosed details
- The Coast Guard did not say how much fuel was aboard or how it determined the fuel was headed to Cuba.
- Context
- The interception occurred as the Trump administration continued enforcing an oil embargo against Cuba.
