Three out of the four Greek companies that saw the US impose Venezuela-related sanctions on their ships said over the weekend they will not touch the trade without express authorisation by Washington, or unless there is regime change in the Latin American country.

NGM Energy, whose 300,000-dwt Voyager I (built 2003) was one of a quartet of Greek-managed tankers put under US sanctions earlier this month, said on Saturday it will stay away from the business.