Maritime Industry Briefing: Crude Deals, LNG-Fueled Fleets, and Shipping Finance Trends

## U.S. Refiners Seek Direct Venezuelan Crude Deals According to gCaptain, U.S. refiners Phillips 66 and Citgo Petroleum are looking to purchase heavy crude directly from Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA starting in April. This would allow them to maximize profits by cutting out intermediaries like trading houses and oil major Chevron. The move comes as the U.S. government has eased some sanctions on Venezuela, opening the door for more direct energy deals. ## Sallaum Lines Expands LNG-Fueled Fleet Sallaum Lines has taken delivery of two new LNG dual-fuel Pure Car and Truck Carriers, reports gCaptain. This marks a significant expansion of the company's 'Ocean Class' fleet as it advances its environmental sustainability efforts. The 7,500 CEU vessels will help Sallaum meet growing demand for greener shipping solutions in the automotive sector. ## Shipping Leaders to Gather in Athens for 'Shipping Nexus' Conference As the maritime industry navigates regulatory changes and geopolitical challenges, the 9th Slide2Open Shipping Finance Conference has announced its 2026 edition: 'The Shipping Nexus - The Urgency for Convergence.' According to Hellenic Shipping News, the event will bring together global industry leaders in Athens on March 4, 2026 to discuss the 'geofinancial pivot' impacting the sector.