Bahri clarifies position on Venezuela-bound tanker

One of the Middle East’s largest shipping lines, National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri), yesterday clarified that its tanker Abqaiq was not breaching the US sanctions on Venezuela. The ship hit the headlines over the weekend as it was alleged it was contravening sanctions placed on the Latin American nation.

The ship is bound for Venezuela’s Port of Jose to load a shipment agreed on January 9, 19 days prior to the imposition of sanctions on Caracas, Bahri said in a statement.

The vessel is expected to deliver the shipment to one of its permanent customers in India — before the end of the grace period set by the US sanctions.