WILLEMSTAD – A growing chorus of maritime experts has sharply criticized the decision to permit the Venezuelan-linked oil tanker Regina to dock in Curaçao, saying the move raises legal and ethical concerns for the island amid ongoing international tensions over Venezuelan crude exports.
The tanker Regina arrived at Bullen Bay terminal earlier this month carrying Venezuelan crude oil. According to maritime reports, the oil is not intended for use in the Caribbean market but is being stored in Curaçao and other regional hubs — including the Bahamas — before later resale to buyers under a U.S.-organized supply scheme involving major trading houses such as Vitol and Trafigura.
Critics argue that allowing a vessel tied to politically sensitive Venezuelan oil trade into Curaçao’s port territory may expose the island to legal scrutiny and potentially incriminate local authorities in a broader geopolitical dispute. Some maritime analysts have raised “alarm bells” over the move, especially given that the Regina’s cargo forms part of a controversial arrangement emerging in the wake of heightened U.S. intervention in Venezuelan oil flows.
Opponents of the decision point to concerns that Curaçao’s facilities are being used as storage and transshipment points for oil that, while legally authorized under U.S. export licenses, remains subject to international sanctions and political dispute. The criticisms reflect broader unease among shipping industry observers about the legal ambiguities and reputational risks associated with servicing tankers involved in complex sanction-related trade arrangements.
Supporters of the approach argue that the storage of Venezuelan oil in Caribbean terminals, including Curaçao’s, represents an economic opportunity amid shifting global energy patterns and regional demand for crude oil logistics infrastructure. Nevertheless, the controversy highlights the challenges faced by small port economies navigating competing legal frameworks, international pressure, and market incentives.
The debate over the Regina’s presence in Curaçao waters adds to ongoing discussions about the island’s role in regional energy logistics as geopolitical dynamics continue to evolve around Venezuelan crude exports and U.S. policy toward Caracas.