OFAC Adds Six PdVSA Vessels to SDN List

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified and sanctioned six ships belonging to Petroleos de Venezuela, Venezuela's sanctioned state-owned energy company, Treasury said in a Dec. 3 press release. The agency also identified the vessel Esperanza as blocked property of Caroil Transport Marine Ltd., which was sanctioned by OFAC in September. Esperanza was previously listed on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals List as “Nedas,” Treasury said.

The six ships -- Icaro, Luisa Caceres de Arismendi, Manuela Saenz, Paramaconi, Terepaima and Yare -- were sanctioned for transporting oil between Venezuela and Cuba, Treasury said. The notice also contains International Maritime Organization numbers for each ship.

Earlier this year, PdVSA invoiced Cubametales, Cuba’s sanctioned state-run oil company (see 1907030056), for 1.3 million barrels of fuel delivered on the vessels. The payments from the shipment were transferred to a Russian bank account, Treasury said. As Cuba and Venezuela “continue trying to circumvent sanctions,” the U.S. will continue to “take necessary action,” Treasury Deputy Secretary Justin Muzinich said in a statement.