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The Caribbean Port Association (Asoportuaria) denied that the tanker Ocean Mariner, intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Caribbean, was headed to Cuba as its final destination.
The guild stated that the operation carried out from Barranquilla was legal and that the cargo was not intended for the island.
The vessel was intercepted on February 13 by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter about 16 miles south of Les Cayes, Haiti, according to maritime tracking data from VesselFinder. So far, there is no official statement detailing the nature of the inspection.
Asoportuaria denies destination Cuba
Lucas Ariza, executive director of Asoportuaria, explained to the Colombian press that the Ocean Mariner was transporting fibroil and at the time of its departure had all the necessary documentation in order, and its destination was a port in the Dominican Republic.
The transaction was conducted under FOB (Free On Board) terms, which means that the seller fulfills their obligation by delivering the goods at the port of embarkation, and the buyer assumes the risks and costs of transportation.
Asoportuaria stated that the port of origin has no responsibility for subsequent route changes. It also noted that there is no documentary evidence to confirm that the fuel was intended for Cuba.
The oil tanker has finally arrived in Haiti. For the industry, this fact dismantles the claims of an alleged diversion towards Cuban territory.
Ship's history and maneuvering in the Caribbean
The Ocean Mariner (IMO: 9328340) is a vessel classified as a Chemical/Oil Products Tanker. It sails under the flag of Liberia. It was built in 2007. It has a length of 127 meters, a width of 20 meters, and a deadweight of 12,983 tons.
It left Barranquilla on February 5 at 19:28 UTC. Its stated destination was "Caribbean for order," with an estimated arrival on February 15 at 01:00. On February 13, at 09:32 UTC, it was sailing at 6.2 knots on a course of 107° and a draft of 8.3 meters.
The trajectory data shows that it moved towards the northeast and entered the maritime corridor between Cuba and Haiti, at the Windward Passage. In that area, it changed course and navigated south of Haiti, where it was intercepted. The cutter CG STONE was also operating in the same corridor, having departed from Ponce, Puerto Rico, on February 10.
The Ocean Mariner was also the last ship to bring oil to Cuba. On January 9, it arrived in Havana with 86,000 barrels of fuel from Mexico, amidst daily blackouts lasting up to 20 hours on the island.
In its stops in January and February 2026, in addition to Colombia, ports in Havana and Matanzas are included, as well as Pajaritos and Coatzacoalcos in Mexico.
Cuba is increasingly dependent on fuel imports following the decline in Venezuelan supply. The interception occurs in the context of heightened pressure from the United States on energy routes to the island.
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