The US government has sold two sanctioned oil tankers for scrap after they were seized during an operation by Washington in Venezuela. The buyer is Dubai-based Global Marketing Systems (GMS), a company specializing in ship recycling. The deal was completed last month, although its value was not disclosed.
The transaction involved the tankers Era, formerly known as Marinera and Bella 1, and Lileo, previously named Galileo and Veronica. Following the sale, both vessels are expected to be sent to shipbreaking yards in India.
The Vessels Were Seized by the US
GMS chief executive Anil Sharma said the company purchased the vessels from the US government under a court order authorizing their sale. However, he said the transaction involved several complications, including difficulties in determining the ships’ previous ownership.
In January, the US Coast Guard and special forces seized the Era in waters south of Iceland following a weeks-long pursuit. US authorities said the vessel had been used to transport sanctioned oil.
Around the same time, US forces also seized the second tanker, Lileo, in the Caribbean Sea. In total, the United States seized up to 10 oil tankers following the military operation in Venezuela.
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