Supertanker Loads Up on American Oil Without Nearing the U.S.
- Alsace receives crude from smaller ships in the Caribbean
- Vessel heading for central China, seen arriving in May
Photographer: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg
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A supertanker filling up with crude in the Gulf of Mexico is routine these days. Less so is a supertanker loading American oil without coming within a thousand miles of the Texas or Louisiana coast.
The Alsace is steaming for China laden with about 2 million barrels of West Texas Intermediate crude after spending three weeks in the Caribbean, according to ship-tracking data and a document seen by Bloomberg. It received its cargo via two ship-to-ship transfers and one terminal visit in the U.S. Virgin Islands.