US Blacklists Two Shipping Firms, Tanker for Violating Venezuela Sanctions

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has blacklisted two shipping firms and a number of vessels, including one Greek tanker, in relation with the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.

Illustration. Image Courtesy: Pixabay under CC0 Creative Commons license

The two companies are the Liberia-based Ballito Bay Shipping and Greek ProPer In Management, respectively the registered owner and the operator of the blacklisted tanker.

The Liberia-flagged 71,600 dwt crude oil tanker Despina Andrianna was delivering crude oil from Venezuela to Cuba during February and March of 2019 in violation of American sanctions, according to the Department of the Treasury.

Additionally, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified 34 vessels as blocked property of Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA), which was blacklisted on January 28, 2019, for operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy.

“Cuba has been an underlying force fueling Venezuela’s descent into crisis. Treasury is taking action against vessels and entities transporting oil, providing a lifeline to keep the illegitimate Maduro regime afloat,” Steven T. Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, said.

“Cuba continues to profit from, and prop up, the illegitimate Maduro regime through oil-for-repression schemes as they attempt to keep Maduro in power. The United States remains committed to a transition to democracy in Venezuela and to holding the Cuban regime accountable for its direct involvement in Venezuela’s demise.”

The U.S. said it continues to take strong action against the regime of former President Nicolas Maduro, not only to isolate corrupt Venezuelan enterprises, but also to target Maduro’s supporters in Havana who continue to enable the oppression of the people of Venezuela.