PB Tankers takes issue with US blacklisting

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Italian-based PB Tankers has expressed concern at being included on the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (FAC) blacklist for allegedly trading with Venezuela.

 

FAC recently issued its latest list of tanker companies and vessels to be blacklisted for trading with Venezuela.

 

The following companies were added to the list - Jennifer Navigation Ltd, Large Range Ltd, Lima Shipping Corp, and PB Tankers.

 

As for the ships involved, they were named as ‘Alba Marina’, a floating storage tanker claimed to be attached to PB Tankers; ‘Gold Point’, ‘Ice Point’,’Indian Point’, ‘Iron Point’ and ‘Silver Point’, all attached to PB Tankers; ‘Nedas’ attached to Jennifer Navigation; ‘New Hellas’ attached to Lima Shipping and S-Trotter, attached to Large Range.

 

In response, PB Tankers said it was shocked and concerned by the action taken by OFAC in adding the company and a number of the its vessels to the current SDN (Specially Designated Nationals) list in relation to trade with Venezuela.

 

This was done without any notification or contact with the company, who only became aware through the media. As a consequence, we will be taking immediate steps to ensure that both are de-listed as a matter of urgency, the company said.

 

PB Tankers, also said that as an Italian shipping company with more than 100 years of service to the international community, has been taking regular advice from both its UK and US lawyers and has been diligent in taking all possible steps to ensure compliance with current US sanctions including, but not limited to, possible restriction of trade under a single timecharter contract, which pre-dates the current sanctions regime.

 

The company further claimed that it does not have any ships in Venezuela, nor will be trading into or out of Venezuela.

 

PB Tankers will continue to meet its obligations as a matter of international law, the company stressed.