Venezuela’s Order for the Construction of 2 Oil Tankers by Iran
Reuters news agency, citing informed sources, reported that Venezuela is entering into a contract with an Iranian company for the construction of two oil tankers. However, Venezuela’s efforts to strengthen its shipping fleet are facing significant challenges due to delays in payment of the agreed amount and other issues such as the registration of the tankers.
Since last year, Venezuela’s state oil company has increased efforts to lease, purchase, and expand its oil tanker fleet. Over the past decade, due to budget shortages and U.S. sanctions that have restricted the insurance and movement of the country’s vessels in international ports, Venezuela has lost a significant portion of its shipping capacity.
The price of each of these two Aframax tankers, which are to be named India Orkia and India Mara, will be around 34 million dollars.
These tankers are to be built by Iran Marine Industrial Company, SADRA, at the shipbuilding facilities in the port of Bushehr. In the past, this company also built two other Aframax tankers named Arita and Anita for Venezuela’s state oil company, with capacities ranging from 500,000 to 800,000 barrels.