A partial easing of US sanctions on Venezuela on humanitarian grounds could pump Caribbean-loading cargoes into the Aframax and Suezmax markets, reviving the traditional local and long-haul Caribbean-loading routes. Uncertainty on the Biden administration’s approach to sanctioned oil-producing countries leaves the Americas dirty tanker market awaiting signals reversing previous administration policies. By Nicole Baquerizo, Catherine Wood and Barbara Troner, Full Text -> S&PGlobal

A Lloyd’s List and Lloyd’s List Intelligence special investigation uncovers the subterfuge tanker fleet that has evolved to ply sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan oil trades, and the risks and challenges this provides for shipowners worldwide, By Michelle Wiese Bockmann. Full Text -> Lloyd’sList

TANKERS flying flags of China and Vietnam have resumed shipping sanctioned Venezuelan crude, often switching off vessel-tracking signals to obfuscate the cargo’s origin and destination. The China-flagged very large crude carriers Xing Ye (IMO 9590058), Yong Le (IMO 9623257) and Thousand Sunny (IMO 9623269) are among at least a dozen tankers known to have been quietly sold on the sale and purchase market during the past six months to anonymous or unknown owners, who then immediately sail them to Venezuela to load. By Michelle Wiese Bockmann. Full Text -> Lloyd’sList

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido’s U.S. envoy pledged on Thursday to investigate the possibility that Cuba is reselling oil and fuel the South American country ships to its political ally under favorable terms. By Luc Cohen, Sarah Marsh and Marianna Parraga. Full Text-> Bloomberg