Singapore detains PDVSA vessel.

Catogory : Market Report

THE Supreme Court of Singapore has detained an aframax tanker owned by Venezuelan state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela.

The 2018-built 113,180 dwt Arita, was arrested on last week at the request of the law firm Gurbani & Co. Vessel movement data from the vessel remained anchored near Singapore after calling at Dongshan port in China on March 31.It is believed that the vessel has been arrested by Bernhard Schulte Ship management, the vessel’s technical manager, over unpaid bills. A BSM spokesman said the company could not comment about the situation for the time being. Gurbani & Co declined to comment. The arrest comes several weeks after the German ship manager confirmed it would be handing back all the tankers it manages for PDVSA.While BSM looks to end the relationship with PDVSA that BSM has continued to foot the bill for crew payments and supplying provisions on all vessels, some of which are on reduced manning. PDVSA beneficially owns 18 tankers, 15 of which are idled in and around Venezuela, It has five apparently under construction. The majority of PDVSA’s tanker fleet, however, has been either anchored or operating only within Venezuelan waters for more than a year. The crude oil tanker Arita was the only vessel that has been actively trading, plying the Middle East to Far East round voyage routes. According to court documents, the vessel was arrested at Singapore’s eastern bunkering anchorage on April 6, suggesting it may have been trying to take on bunker. PDVSA’s fleet is effectively now in danger of being arrested if they leave Venezuelan waters due to unpaid fees to various service providers.