Boatfag Update Report
Some info this morning pointing at the Carribean as a place to watch, so this Report is focused solely on the Carib from Venezuelan coast up to Miami, including a quick scan of the Gulf of Mexico.
On The Scope:
Jose Terminal; Barcelona, Venezuela
BF team has been watching for sanction-breaking tankers. Uncertain that these qualify but they are located at the Jose Terminal anchorage and at least one appears to be shifting into position to offload (note – the tankers discussed are oil carriers; some tankers are LPG and not under observation)
Pic#1 shows the bracketed tanker VANESSA is a Comoros Isl.-flagged ship; also in the anchorage is Liberian-flagged COMMODORE, and two Marshall Isl.-flagged oilers, RIO ORINOCO and RIO APURE. Interestingly, COMMODORE has a listed destination of Trinidad and Tobago, but it’s origin point of Singapore and duration of trip (departed April 22) gave it plenty of time to onload/offload as it chooses. Sounds sneaky, so I’m adding this one to the merchant watch list. COMMODORE, IMO# 9176993, MMSI# 636019754 is the tracking data for fellow BF’s.
Panamanian-flagged tanker NEW PAROS is also inbound with a destination shown as the Puerto La Cruz port nearby. Panama shipping deliveries are a pretty frequent occurrence so I’m sure this is not something SOUTHCOM worries about a great deal.
Gustavia, St. Barts
Minor jackpot here, caught up with a yacht not on the Yacht Watch List – ARTEFACT, IMO# 9804332, MMSI# 538071148. Current position as of 9 hours ago is in the anchorage about 1nm north of Gustavia harbor. The boat is listed as being owned by Mike Lazaridis, the founder of Blackberry (Research In Motion) and the Quantum Valley Investment Fund. Still holds about 5% stock. Turkish-born Canadian, Chinese wife. Blackberry Board includes two members of Chinese descent. That’s a little stinky, considering Oblowpig and Hilldawg’s affinity for using them. Sauce https://www.superyachtfan.com/artefact-yacht.html
Pic#2 – 2nd ugliest boat I’ve seen. Pic#3 – ARTEFACT position
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas USVI
Geffen’s boat RISING SUN is still moored in to a pier on the waterfront here. Been there for at least a week or so, iirc. No pic, that jackhole isn’t worth the wasted pixels.
Cuba
No pic, but there are currently tracks on 4 Mil/SAR vessels in vesselfinder on the northern Cuba coast. Dunno if it means anything, but that is more of such traffic than I’ve usually seen in that area. All vessels are close to the coast, so they are not a threat to anyone.
Mobile, AL
The USNS NEWPORT, a Roll-On, Roll-Off (aka “Ro Ro”) cargo ship has departed from Mobile, heading SE. It’s track is pointing almost directly at Tampa, FL. No pic.
Nothing further to report.