Tanker owners engaged in the Venezuelan trade are facing the threat of arrest by Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) in addition to late or even unpaid charter hire, as the South American country sinks deeper into crisis.
According to industry sources, the state-owned oil company seized at least one aframax and two MR tankers for a couple of weeks during December and January to force the discharge of cargoes in Venezuela, which has been hit by rampant fuel shortages.
