Russian Fuel Tanker Heads Towards Cuba Amid US Sanctions Enforcement
A Chinese-owned MR tanker appears to have loaded a cargo of Russian fuel and is now heading towards Cuba. Based on an analysis of data by maritime intelligence firm Windward and Marine Traffic, the ship might be set to challenge the U.S. embargo on Cuba as early as next weekend.
Russian officials have repeatedly said that they were prepared to provide aid to Cuba and the Communist government since Donald Trump announced the country a “hotbed of spies” and threatened tariffs on any country that aided Cuba with fuel deliveries. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergi Ryabkov spoke of potential financial aid, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said discussions were underway about how Russia could provide assistance.
Vessel Tracking and Fuel Delivery
The Hong Kong-flagged MR tanker Sea Horse (27,000 dwt) is being tracked by Windward and Marine Traffic. Built in 2002 and managed from China, the vessel appears to have undertaken a ship-to-ship transfer near Cyprus, with Windward reporting it likely loaded Russian middle distillate originating from the Black Sea ports. Windward says the vessel’s draft increased on February 8 and reports it could reach Cuba on March 2.
The ship’s AIS signal is transmitting that it is bound for Gibraltar. However, it passed Gibraltar days ago. The last estimates place it near the middle of the Atlantic, sailing due west. The Sea Horse is not under any sanctions.
Previous Attempts to Deliver Fuel
Tanker Ocean Mariner, as previously reported, sailed from Colombia and entered the Windward Channel off Haiti. The vessel made a sudden “U” turn and headed south of the Dominican Republic. The New York Times reported a U.S. Coast Guard vessel had approached the tanker and hailed it, inquiring about its destination. It said the Dominican Republic, and it has been loitering near Santo Domingo. It later proceeded to Nassau in the Bahamas, reportedly with a USCG shadowing its movements.
Another small tanker that regularly made the runs between Curacao and Cuba, The New York Times reports, also appeared to abandon a supply run. The Gas Exelero (3,100 dwt), the paper reports, sailed to Curacao in early February but returned to Cuba apparently empty. A third tanker, the Greek-owned Nicos IV (45,364 dwt), docked in Matanzas, Cuba, last month, but it was unclear if it had a cargo aboard. The vessels each have only represented a token supply that would do little to alleviate the long-term challenge.
Uncertainty Surrounds US Coast Guard Interdiction
It is unclear currently if the U.S. Coast Guard would interdict the Sea Horse as the vessel arrives in the Caribbean. So far, the U.S. appears only to have used its presence to intimidate vessels from approaching Cuba. The U.S. did permit a humanitarian aid shipment from Mexico to reach Cuba, but it did not have fuel supplies.
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Original Article: Report: Product Tanker with Russian Fuel Appears Bound for Cuba — The Maritime Executive