10 FEB 2019

Bahri, the national shipping company of Saudi Arabia, clarifies that its oil tanker ‘Abqaiq’ ‎is in ballast condition with no cargo onboard and on her way from the Red Sea to pick up a cargo from the ‎Port of Jose ‎Terminal in Venezuela for one of its regular customers in India. ‎This cargo was contracted on January 9, 2019, well before the U.S. sanctions were imposed against Venezuela on January 28, 2019. The ‘Abqaiq’ voyage is expected to be completed before the end of the exemption period allowed to wind-down agreements. 

Venezuela is a frequent loading destination for Bahri’s oil tankers, delivering cargoes ‎to ports in India and China. Hence, the recent voyage to the Port of Jose is not an ‎exceptional or peculiar one, as lately stated by a media outlet. ‎

Bahri strictly adheres to and ensures full compliance with the applicable laws and ‎regulations in every market where it operates.