Discover the Negra-Hipolita: Ratings & Maritime News

On March 7, a significant crew turnover occurred aboard the oil tanker 'Negra Hipólita' at Puerto Cabello, as 30 PDVSA employees were replaced under serious allegations. These individuals, accused of treason for allegedly smuggling 126,000 barrels of fuel, faced grave consequences, including a potential 25-year prison sentence. Every crew member, from the captain to the cook, was implicated in this scandal. The newly assigned crew, which includes only three sailors previously familiar with the tanker, faced a daunting challenge. Upon reviewing the ship’s plans, computers, and engine logs, they found crucial information missing, particularly about the vessel's last leg from the Paraguaná Peninsula. The situation escalated with new detentions, bringing the total to 38 individuals within PDVSA, including dock personnel in Paraguaná and Oswaldo Vargas, the president of PDV-Marina. Authorities have now launched an extensive investigation affecting over a hundred workers affiliated with PDVSA. The sequence of events leading to the current predicament began on March 5, when the tanker was intercepted by the Navy after departing for Catia La Mar, following a stop for fuel transfer with tankers like 'Panaman Glory' in Aruba’s territorial waters. As this new crew settled in, they expressed concerns regarding the state of the ship’s engine, which reportedly requires urgent repairs. They highlighted a critical lack of inert gas necessary for cleaning the fuel transfer pipes. Upon taking command, the new crew members were briefed by a PDVSA manager and a Navy officer who reassured them of their role as trusted personnel in this essential maritime operation.

In a significant crackdown on fuel smuggling, 38 employees of the state-owned oil company PDVSA were apprehended on March 6, 2020, with charges of treason looming over them. Among the detainees is Oswaldo Vargas, the president of PDV Marina, a key maritime division of Petróleos de Venezuela. The vessel involved, 'Negra Hipólita,' part of the PDV Marina fleet, was found guilty of illicitly offloading its cargo, which it transferred to a Colombian-flagged ship in the Netherlands Antilles. The drama unfolded when the 'Negra Hipólita' set sail from Paraguaná on March 5, carrying 126,000 barrels of fuel intended for La Guaira, a port near Caracas. However, in a blatant act of defiance, the ship altered its course and switched off its AIS and GPS systems, evading detection as it approached the maritime borders between Venezuela and the Netherlands Antilles. Here, the crew made an illegal sale of hydrocarbons to unidentified buyers. The Venezuelan Navy intervened, towing the 'Negra Hipólita' to Puerto Cabello for a thorough inspection. The operation resulted in the arrest of six personnel from the dispatch service of the Paraguaná Refining Center, alongside 30 crew members from the 'Negra Hipólita,' highlighting the ongoing battle against fuel smuggling in the region.

In a significant operation last week, Venezuelan authorities apprehended three vessels suspected of engaging in illegal fuel practices. Among those detained was the 'Negra Hipolita', alongside the Greek tanker 'Marios G' and Panama-flagged 'Paola Valentina'. During inspections, the 'Marios G' was discovered carrying a staggering 1,000 barrels of illicit bunker fuel, while the 'Paola Valentina' was found with four tons of the same illegal substance. Authorities have confirmed that at least nine crew members from the detained ships are now in custody as investigations continue into these unlawful bunkering activities.