The US has not, in fact, imposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil. Neither the vessel nor the company is under any sanctions, according to the IMO. The Centuries was carrying oil from a China-based trader with a history of transporting Venezuelan crude oil to Chinese refineries, according to a person familiar with Venezuela’s oil industry. The blockade could affect more than 30 tankers in the Caribbean currently under US sanctions, according to analysis from TankerTrackers.com and the global intelligence company Kpler. At least 12 of these vessels are carrying Venezuelan oil, according to Kpler.

Source: New Zealand Herald December 21, 2025 08:57 UTC