BP Tanker Finally Unloads Cargo at Curacao Terminal

Shipspotting After being delayed for 100 days off the coast of Venezuela due to unresolved payment issues, the 2013-built tanker Sonangol Cabinda finally finished discharging its cargo on Monday at Curacaos Bullen Bay terminal, according to Reuters. The 157,748 dwt ship arrived at the Curacao terminal in June, however, the vessel was not granted the approval to unload the cargo at the terminal, operated by state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), due to payment delays from PDVSA to oil company BP Plc. Carrying over 1 million barrels of US crude oil, the tanker sailed to Curacao from port of Beaumont in Texas. PDVSA reportedly had a pending payment of USD 57.2 million for the cargo, which was being shipped as part of a tender awarded to BP in March this year, under which the oil major was to import up to 8.2 million barrels of US crude for the second quarter, Reuters said. According to AIS data provided by MarineTraffic, the 83,753 gross ton ship is currently at anchor off Venezuelas Aruba. World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: Shipspotting