Iranian fuel that was seized last month by the US while it was en route to Venezuela is heading for Texas and is likely to arrive there within days, reports Reuters, citing unnamed sources and publicly available data.
The first fuel cargo was said to be on Liberia-flagged tanker Euroforce (IMO 9251585) and was to arrive in Texas within 24 hours, the sources said. It was broadcasting the US Gulf port of Galveston as its destination.
The second cargo is on Singapore-flagged tanker Maersk Progress (IMO 9283289) and is expected to arrive at Houston on September 19th, according to Refinitiv Eikon data.
Last month the US announced that it had confiscated 1.1m barrels of Iranian fuel that was bound for Venezuela. Citing unnamed sources, Reuters said that the four tankers originally carrying the fuel had transferred their cargoes onto the two vessels, which had special permits to enter into the US waters to deliver the cargoes.
2002-built, Liberia-flagged, 56,212 gt Euroforce is owned by Romina Maritime Co Inc care of manager Eurotankers of Piraeus, Greece. It is entered with West of England Club (Claims Team Greece) on behalf of Romina Maritime Co Inc.
2005-built, Singapore-flagged, 61,274 gt Maersk Progress is owned by Maersk Tankers Singapore Pte of Singapore. Commercial manager is Moller AP of Copenhagen, Denmark. ISM manager is Maersk Tankers AS of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is entered with Skuld (Business Unit Skuld Copenhagen) on behalf of Maersk Tankers AS.