The cutter of the United States Coast Guard intercepted the tanker Ocean Mariner (IMO: 9328340) this Friday in Caribbean waters, approximately 16 miles south of Les Cayes, Haiti, according to maritime tracking data from VesselFinder.
The ship, classified as a Chemical/Oil Products Tanker, is currently sailing under the flag of Liberia and has a length of 127 meters, a beam of 20 meters, and a deadweight of 12,983 tons. It was built in 2007.
According to the available information, the tanker left Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 5 at 19:28 UTC. Its declared destination is listed as "Caribbean for order," with an estimated arrival on February 15 at 01:00.
At the time of the last report (February 13, 09:32 UTC), it was sailing at 6.2 knots on a course of 107° with a draft of 8.3 meters.
Suspicious maneuver: Change of course in the Windward Passage
The trajectory data shows that the vessel moved northeast after leaving Colombia and entered the maritime corridor between Cuba and Haiti, in the area of the Windward Passage. It subsequently made a course change in that area before continuing south of Haiti, where it was intercepted.
In the same corridor operates the cutter CG STONE (MMSI: 338848000), a vessel of the U.S. Coast Guard that departed from Ponce, Puerto Rico, on February 10. Its presence coincides with that of the tanker in the area.
So far, there is no official statement detailing the nature of the inspection.
Ocean Mariner delivered the last shipment of oil that entered Cuba
The Ocean Mariner was the last ship to bring oil to Cuba. On January 9, it arrived in Havana with 86,000 barrels of fuel from Mexico, amidst the severe energy crisis the island is experiencing, with daily blackouts of up to 20 hours.
Recent stops include ports in Havana and Matanzas (Cuba), as well as Pajaritos and Coatzacoalcos (Mexico), in addition to Barranquilla, Colombia.
Cuba is increasingly dependent on fuel imports following the end of Venezuelan supplies. This episode occurs in a context of heightened pressure from the United States on energy routes to the island.
Official information is expected in the coming hours regarding the status of the ship and the nature of the ongoing operation.
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