US Pursuit of Third Oil Tanker Deepens Venezuela Blockade (1)

The US Coast Guard’s pursuit of a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela has intensified a blockade that the Trump administration hopes will cut off a vital economic lifeline and isolate the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

US forces chased the US-sanctioned Bella 1 on Sunday as it was en route to Venezuela. They boarded Centuries, a ship owned by a Hong Kong-based entity, on Saturday — the first non-sanctioned vessel to be targeted. Another very large crude carrier, the Skipper, was intercepted on Dec. 10.

The Bella 1 tanker in March.

Photographer: Hakon Rimmereid/MarineTraffic

The moves on three separate vessels represent the most concerted attempt ...