Chinese-owned supertanker on US’ Iran watch list changed name in apparent effort to evade oil sanctions
- Transponder data shows Malaysia-bound Pacific Bravo, which could carry US$118 million of crude oil, ‘went dark’ for six weeks to reappear as the Latin Venture
While in the Indian Ocean on its way to the Strait of Malacca on June 5, the Chinese-owned very large crude carrier (VLCC) Pacific Bravo went dark and the radio transponder that signalled its position and direction to other ships fell silent, tracking data showed.
A US government official warned ports in Asia at that time not to allow the ship to dock, claiming it carried Iranian crude in violation of Washington’s economic sanctions. A VLCC supertanker typically carries about 2 million barrels of oil, worth about US$118 million at current prices.
On July 18, the transponder of the supertanker Latin Venture came to life off Port Dickson in Malaysia, in the Strait of Malacca, about 1,500km from where the Pacific Bravo last signalled its position.
Both the Latin Venture and the Pacific Bravo sent the same unique identification number – IMO9206035 – issued by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), according to data from Refinitiv and VesselsValue, which track ships and vessel transactions.
Media and information company Thomson Reuters has a minority stake in Refinitiv.