Sanctioned Oil Tankers Depart Venezuela Following US Naval Action

At least 16 oil tankers under U.S. sanctions have departed Venezuelan waters following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces on January 10, 2024. According to maritime surveillance analysts from Tanker Trackers, these vessels were carrying approximately 12 million barrels of crude oil and refined oil products.

On January 13, 2024, satellite images from the European Copernicus programme confirmed that four of the tankers were heading north from Venezuela. These vessels have been identified as the Aquila II, Bertha, Veronica III, and Vesna. All four tankers are subject to U.S. sanctions due to the December 16 naval blockade imposed by former President Donald Trump on sanctioned oil tankers arriving at or departing from Venezuela.

The situation surrounding these tankers highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Venezuela’s oil exports. The first three tankers are reportedly transporting crude oil, while the Vesna is empty. Satellite data confirmed that the Vesna was located approximately 40 kilometers east of Grenada on January 14, 2024, a significant distance from its earlier position.

According to further analysis from Kpler, eleven of the remaining twelve oil tankers whose locations were not confirmed by January 15, 2024, are also under U.S. sanctions. These include the Volans, Lydya N, Lyra, Merope, Min Hang, M Sophia, Nayara (also known as Themis), Olina (Minerva M), Rosalin (Nurkez), Thalia III, and Veronica (Pegas). The final tanker, the Sea Maverick, is not under U.S. sanctions but is subject to those imposed by Britain and the European Union due to suspected ties to a phantom fleet transporting Russian oil.

In recent days, many of the oil tankers that have left Venezuela reportedly disabled their AIS transponders or transmitted false GPS location signals. This behavior raises concerns about transparency and compliance with international maritime regulations. The U.S. blockade could potentially impact up to 600 oil tankers under U.S. sanctions, as analyzed by AFP using data from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and the International Maritime Organization.

The departure of these tankers marks a significant moment in the complex geopolitical landscape surrounding Venezuela’s oil industry and its ongoing struggles against international sanctions.