US Seizes Second Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast

The United States, involving Coast Guard units, has seized a second oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters.

Reuters reported on this.

The action comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not specify the exact location of the operation but said the Coast Guard played a leading role.

On December 17, US President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports.

The seizure follows a similar operation about a week earlier, when the US intercepted the first sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.

Following the first seizure, Venezuelan oil exports fell sharply, with loaded vessels remaining in Venezuelan waters to reduce the risk of being seized.

While many vessels transporting Venezuelan oil are under sanctions, others carrying Venezuelan crude, as well as oil from Iran and Russia, are not. Some companies, including US-based Chevron, ship Venezuelan oil using their own authorized vessels.

China is the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil, accounting for about 4% of its total imports. Analysts estimate that shipments in December averaged more than 600,000 barrels per day.

As of this week, of more than 70 oil tankers in Venezuelan waters linked to the so-called shadow fleet, about 38 are under US Treasury sanctions, according to TankerTrackers.com. At least 15 of them are loaded with crude oil or fuel.

At the same time, the US blockade is not absolute. For example, a Panamanian-flagged vessel listed under US sanctions was able to enter Venezuelan waters without interference. To do so, the crew allegedly falsified AIS data, transmitting information showing the tanker in a completely different part of the world.

In addition, President Nicolás Maduro ordered the Venezuelan navy to escort vessels carrying petroleum products. Several ships have since departed Venezuela for Asia under naval escort, although none of them were on the list of sanctioned tankers.