Despite U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and the recent high-profile seizure of the sanctioned tanker Skipper, flows of Venezuelan crude into American refineries remain robust. For the week ending December 12, Wood Mackenzie tracking showed arrivals totaled more than 248,000 bpd.
On the East Coast, the Canopus Voyager discharged 48,000 bpd of Boscan crude into the region, while Ionic Anax previously delivered 80,000 bpd of Hamaca to PBF's Delaware City facilty. However, flows in PADD 3 dominated activity. The Nave Photon delivered 72,000 bpd of Merey to Valero St. Charles, while Searuby delivered volumes of Merey (20,000 bpd) and Boscan (30,000 bpd) at Valero's Corpus Christi terminal. At the same time, the Minerva Astra unloaded 80,000 bpd of Hamaca from Jose to Chevron's Pascagoula refinery.
These flows illustrate how Venezuelan crude continues to find pathways into U.S. refining systems despite enforcement actions like the Skipper seizure. Follow all the tanker movements on Vessel Tracker!
