A build-up of tankers has been reported off Venezuela as oil suppliers began to ask for pre-payment from state-controlled PDVSA for crude and products cargoes.

Reuters cited five companies involved in deals as saying there are worries over PDVSA’s cash flow.

The report said Maran Tankers’ 158,000–dwt suezmax Maran Pythia (built 2009), chartered by Statoil, loaded on 19 October in Angola and has been waiting at Curacao to discharge since early November.

AIS