PB Tankers is "shocked and concerned" at the recent sanctions levied against it by the US government.
In a statement Monday, the Italian tanker owner said it was never contacted directly by the US over allegations that six of its ships — nearly its entire fleet — was operating in Venezuela and only found out it had censured from news reports.
"[We] will be taking immediate steps to ensure that both are delisted as a matter of urgency," the company's statement read. "PB Tankers does not have any ships in Venezuela, nor will be trading into or out of Venezuela."
The company maintains it has taken all possible steps to ensure compliance, including restricting trade under contracts that predate the sanctions.
Last week, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) added the company, the 108,152-dwt Alba Marina (built 1999), the 51,922-dwt Ice Point (built 2007), the 51,062-dwt Silver Point (built 2001), the 51,004-dwt Gold Point (built 2011), the 50,922-dwt Indian Point (built 2008) and the 50,922-dwt Iron Point (built 2008) to its Specifically Designated Nationals List.
Individuals and entities on those lists have their assets frozen and are generally unable to do business in the US.
The US has maintained sanctions on Venezuela going back to 2015. So far, 150 individuals and entities, including Venezuela's state oil company PdVSA, have been listed.
Of the six ships, PB Tankers owns all but one, the Alba Marina, which it manages, its website shows.
The only PB Tankers-owned or controlled ship that avoided the sanctions was the 7,400-dwt Galatea (built 2011).
