Iranian fuel tankers reported off coast of South Africa
The tankers are reportedly bringing oil to Venezuela and may be taking the longer African route to avoid US forces following a seizure in August.
An Iranian fuel tanker bound for Venezuela showed up on radar on Friday as off the coast of South Africa. Iranian fuel deliveries continue to the South American country after recent US seizures, and the lengthy route around Africa could be to avoid the US military.
The website MarineTraffic received a signal from the tanker, named Fortune, on Friday showing it off South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast.
MarineTraffic shows at least three Iran-flagged fuel tankers currently sailing, none of which have a destination listed. Fortune began in the United Arab Emirates city of Khor Fakkan and is due to dock on Sept. 21. Faxon sailed from the Iranian island Lavan and was detected off the coast of the UAE on Aug. 31. Forest left the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas on or before Aug. 9, according to the website.
On Thursday, Reuters reported that Forest and Fortune were near southern Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and heading for Venezuela. They will arrive later this month with around 300,000 barrels of fuel, according to the outlet.
