Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) is to remove its crews from two crude tankers linked to Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA after a stand-off over pay.

The amount owed by PDVSA’s shipping subsidiary PDV Marina to BSM globally is at least $15m, sources told Reuters.

BSM said crews will be removed from the suezmax Rio Arauca (built 2011) and aframax Parnaso (built 1993), which are both currently anchored in Lisbon, Portugal.