PB Tankers ‘Shocked’ to Be on OFAC Venezuela Sanctions List

Italian PB Tankers said it “is shocked and concerned” by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control action to add the company to a current sanctions list in relation to trade with Venezuela.

“This has been done without any notification or contact with the company. As a consequence, we will be taking immediate steps to ensure that both are delisted as a matter of urgency,” PB Tankers said in a statement.

The company further noted that it has been taking regular advice from both its UK and US lawyers and has been taking all possible steps to ensure compliance with current US sanctions including, but not limited to, restriction of trade under a single time charter contract which predates the current sanctions regime.

PB Tankers informed that it “does not have any ships in Venezuela, nor will be trading into or out of Venezuela.”

The company “is therefore extremely disappointing that the US/OFAC have decided to take such action against an owner who has throughout done everything possible to comply.”

As World Maritime News earlier reported, U.S. OFAC added four shipping companies and nine vessels, including PB Tankers and six of its ships, that reportedly operate in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy to its sanctions list.

OFAC listed the company’s units Silver Point, Alba Marina, Gold Point, Ice Point, Indian Point, and Iron Point as sanctioned.

World Maritime News Staff