Negra Hipolita: Citgo tanker back to Syria again?

More diesel for Syria: "We've sent three shipments (and) they haven't needed any more than that."

The fuel is crucial to Syria's embattled al-Assad as former trading partners have dropped out for fear of violating international sanctions.

The former carrier, Negra  Hipólita  is off Limasol and says Destination: SUEZ CANAL   ETA: 2012-05-19 12:00   Info Received: 2012-05-18 21:57.

[February 17] "The information we have received is that the Negra Hipolita is on the Venezuelan coast, and according to the agreement, Venezuela is ready to continue supplying diesel".
El Zabayar did not say when the third shipment would be sent. The PDVSA shipments appeared to be carried out under a 2010 agreement between the two nations in which Venezuela provides diesel in exchange for food and commodities such as olive oil.
It is not clear if PDVSA is negotiating directly with Syria's state oil firm Sytrol, which has been blacklisted by the United Sates and the European Union even though there is no blanket embargo on supplying fuel to Syria due to humanitarian concerns.
[February 22]Negra Hipólita, tanker of Venezuelan PDVSA [US-based subsidiary CITGO Petroleum], arrived in the Syrian port of Banias on Feb. 15, probably carried diesel and possibly other types of fuel. Given the risk that (refining) capacity could be cut due to sabotage, fuel shortages are likely to force the government to rely on costly imports supplied by a shrinking pool of political allies," risk group Business Monitor International wrote in a recent report.
[February 17]The Venezuelan tanker was last seen off the coast of Cyprus with a destination of Banias and the estimated arrival date of February 16, The tanker was on its second trip to Banias in three months and carried diesel fuel. Baniyas is home of one of the largest oil refineries in Syria
Gross Tonnage: 28338, DeadWeight: 47144 t Speed recorded (Max / Average): 14.7 / 14.4 knots Flag: Venezuela [VE] Call Sign: YYHQ IMO: 9117480, MMSI: 775048000
Home port: Las Piedras Class society: Lloyd´s Shipping Register Build year: 1996 Builder*: Astillero La Naval Sestao, Spain Owner: Petroleos De Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela Manager: Petroleos De Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela
American motorists rely on Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), one of the top exporters of oil to the US. The state-owned company is a global oil giant and in 2009 reported estimated proved reserves of 97.8 billion barrels of oil and 5 trillion cu. meters of natural gas. PDVSA's exploration and production take place in Venezuela, but the company also has refining and marketing operations in the Caribbean, Europe, and the US. US-based subsidiary CITGO Petroleum supplies gasoline to some 6,500 US retail outlets. Outside Venezuela, PDVSA refines, markets, and transports petroleum products in Belgium, the Caribbean, Sweden, the UK, and the US.
The PDVSA shipments appeared to be carried out under a 2010 agreement between the governments of the two nations in which Venezuela provides diesel in exchange for food and commodities such as olive oil.
Syria’s oil minister spoke about a possibility of Venezuelan imports in January, and traders said the Negra Hipolita diesel shipment to Syria was the second delivery in the past three months.
The vessel can carry 47,000 tons, which if fully loaded would be worth around $50 million. It was not clear how much diesel the ship was carrying.
While there is no blanket embargo on supplying fuel to Syria, its state-owned oil firm Sytrol, responsible for organizing fuel imports and exports, was placed on a U.S. blacklist last summer, and the EU followed suit in December.
It was not clear whether the recent reported fuel transactions were done via Sytrol.