Lia

The United Stateshave imposed sanctions against six more tankers trying to break the embargo on oil transportation to and from Venezuela that the country has imposed, four with connections to Ukraine, one with Russia and one Venezuelan. Three of the ships - the 'Balita', 'Domani' and 'Freedom' - are operated by Fides Ship Management in Ukraine. A fourth, the 'Legacy', was operated by Fides Ship Management for a period in 2020 before being taken over by Panthea Marine and is now operated by the Russian company Berylicious. The other two were the 'Maxim Gorki', which is under the management of Transocean Shipping in Moscow, but owned by Venezuelan Govt INEA, and the 'Sierra' operated by Rustanker.

The 'Gerd Knutsen' which had been caught in a political battle for control of Venezuela was discharging its cargo after 367 days bobbing off the coast. The tanker was offloading 950,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil at a Puerto Jose. The crude oil, valued at roughly $50 million, was belonging to Citgo Petroleum Corp., the U.S. refiner led by appointees of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido. The 'Gerd Knutsen' on Feb 11, 2020, docked at a terminal run by Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the national oil company controlled by President Nicolas Maduro. It was unclear if the vessel is discharging with the consent of Guaido’s Citgo. In December 2019, a shadow board of Citgo directors chosen by Maduro attempted to seize the cargo but was blocked by a U.S. court.

While the "Gerd Knutsen" was moored in position 10 11 70N, 64 47 30W, at the Puerto Jose anchorage, Venezuela on Jan 17, 2019, unnoticed robbers boarded the vessel at 03.40 a.m. The robbers stole the vessel's stores and escaped. The theft was noticed by the duty crew during routine patrols. The port control was subsequently informed.