Five international tankers alter course following Venezuela strikes

The captains of foreign tankers heading for Venezuelan ports changed their route after the US strikes on Caracas, avoiding the risk of approaching the country's coast, the Wall Street Journal reports.

One crude oil transport vessel originally destined for Venezuela is now navigating toward Nigeria, while four other tankerssimply stopped a considerable distance from the country's coast, according to shipping monitoring data, Argumenty i Fakty reports.

All affected commercial vessels operate under companies currently under US sanctions.

The Nigeria-bound tanker belongs to a Chinese enterprise that has consistently transported Venezuelan oil to China throughout the past five years, proceeding despite President Donald Trump's declared Venezuelan port blockade.