The United States has stepped up its sanctions on the shipping network that moves oil for Cuba, naming five Cuban-flagged tankers as blocked property and targeting the companies that own and manage them.
Who was targeted
The State Department announced on 5 November that it had designated eight companies and two individuals under an executive order aimed at the Cuban government’s revenue and military support networks.
- Tankers: Esperanza (IMO 9289166), Gloria C (IMO 9540273), Maria Cristina (IMO 9502453), Emilia (IMO 9242209) and Lourdes (IMO 9259692)
- Managers and owners: Cyprus-based Caroil Transport Marine manages Esperanza, Gloria C and Maria Cristina; Panama-registered Tentacool Commercial owns Gloria C; Cuba’s Internacional Maritima owns Esperanza; and Havana-based Petroleos Maritimos del Caribe (Petromarca) manages Emilia and Lourdes.
Some of the targets were already on the list: Caroil, Esperanza and Maria Cristina were sanctioned in 2019, so the new action widens existing restrictions. Washington also named an individual it links to a large offshore oil shipping network.
Wider risk for shipping companies
Separately, the US Treasury has extended its sanctions powers to cover foreign companies operating in Cuba’s marine, manufacturing, electronics and technology sectors. That raises the risk for international shipping businesses: dealings with sanctioned parties involving US persons are generally banned, and foreign firms that provide services to designated companies or ships could themselves be sanctioned.
Authorised humanitarian trade, including food and medicine, remains exempt.
Based on reporting by Splash247, 6 November 2026.
Photo: Representative image: a tanker at sea (not one of the sanctioned ships). ImagePerson / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
