- Seahorse Makes U-Turn, Fails Twice to Reach Venezuela.
- Russian Vessel Supplying Vital Naphtha to Caracas.
- Venezuela Dependent on Imported Diluents for Heavy Crude.
A Russian oil tanker, the Seahorse, made a sudden change in its route to Venezuela after encountering the US destroyer USS Stockdale, as reported by Bloomberg’s tanker-tracking data. This incident took place near the coast of Venezuela on November 13, reports gCaptain.
Repeated Attempts to Reach Venezuela Fail
After being intercepted, the Seahorse shifted its course toward Cuba. It has tried to get close to Venezuela twice since then but has turned back both times, leaving the ship idling in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the USS Stockdale, which is part of President Donald Trump’s expanded anti-narcotics efforts in the area, continued its journey toward Puerto Rico. The US Southern Command chose not to comment on the movements of the warship.
Key Tanker Supplying Venezuela With Crucial Diluents
The Seahorse is under sanctions from the UK and EU and is one of four Russian vessels that deliver naphtha to Venezuela. Naphtha is a crucial diluent that helps thin out Venezuela’s heavy, sulfur-rich crude oil so it can flow through pipelines and be exported. The US Treasury considers naphtha essential for Venezuela’s oil operations.
Venezuela’s Dependence on Russian Fuel Grows
Even with vast oil reserves, Venezuela is heavily dependent on imported diluents because its limited domestic supply is reserved for gasoline production. The Seahorse had recently offloaded its cargo in late October before heading toward Cuba and attempting to return to Venezuela.
Unusual Vessel Behaviour Raises Questions
It’s quite rare for Russian fuel tankers to make sudden course changes or linger along the well-trodden Cuba-Venezuela route, which makes the Seahorse’s actions particularly noteworthy. The White House, Kremlin, and Venezuela’s Information Ministry have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Shift From US to Russian Supplies
While Venezuela used to receive naphtha from Chevron during the Biden administration, Trump’s renewed “maximum pressure” approach toward Nicolás Maduro has put a stop to those shipments, forcing Caracas to depend almost entirely on Russian supplies.
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Source: gCaptain
