The U.S. government has sold for scrap two sanctioned oil tankers that were seized in the days after Washington’s raid on Venezuela, according to a report by Lloyd’s List. The tankers, previously operating as the Era and the Lileo, were purchased by Dubai-headquartered vessel recycling firm Global Marketing Systems last month for an undisclosed sum.
Background
The U.S. Coast Guard and military special forces seized the Russian-flagged Era in January in waters south of Iceland, ending a weeks-long pursuit across the Atlantic. The vessel had previously slipped through a U.S. blockade in the Caribbean aimed at stopping oil exports from Venezuela. The U.S. also seized the Russian-flagged vessel now known as Lileo in the Caribbean Sea in January. That tanker was subject to U.S. sanctions against Russia.
The sale of the tankers is part of the U.S. government’s efforts to enforce sanctions against Venezuela and Russia. The tankers will be demolished in scrap yards in India.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
