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The U.S. has seized a tanker carrying Venezuelan crude and ordered a blockade of sanctioned ships as it tries to choke off oil exports and drive President Maduro from power. It is still unclear, however, how the U.S. will deal with the dozens of unsanctioned tankers keeping Venezuela's oil trade alive, the WSJ Logistics Report writes in a report for Dow Jones Risk Journal.
Of the roughly 38 tankers that lifted crude from Venezuela in October and November, 27 were from the so-called shadow fleet shipping oil illegally—but only 14 were sanctioned, according to an analysis of Vortexa shipping data by Lloyd's List Intelligence.
Trade specialists say the Trump administration could further stem the flow of Venezuelan oil by sanctioning more vessels and seizing additional ships as it tries to squeeze the Maduro government.
For now, the U.S.’s bellicose tactics may be reducing Venezuela’s export options. Five tankers headed for Venezuela diverted to other countries in recent days, according to TankerTrackers.com. Tomer Raanan, a maritime risk analyst at Lloyd's List Intelligence, said the diverted vessels included at least three unsanctioned very large crude carriers capable of carrying a combined six million barrels of oil.
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