Super tanker headed for Netherlands lifts two cargoes from Guyana oilfield 

The Red Nova, a large crude carrier (VLCC) capable of transporting more than 2 million barrels of oil, recently completed a double crude lift offshore Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana told OilNOW. 

The tanker loaded crude from two floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) units operated by ExxonMobil in the South American country’s Stabroek Block. It took approximately one million barrels from the Liza Unity FPSO, before stopping at the Liza Destiny FPSO to load an added one million barrels, during the period February 20-25. Crude offloads in Guyana typically involve single-lift volumes of about one million barrels. 

The Red Nova is now en route to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, a key refining and trading hub, according to vessel tracking services Marine Traffic and Maritime Optima. The Netherlands has emerged as a major destination for Guyanese crude, reflecting Europe’s growing appetite for the South American producer’s oil.

OilNOW recorded 32 crude cargoes being lifted from Guyana during the period Jan. 1-Feb. 24. Of that lot, the tracking services showed that 11 were destined for the Netherlands, the most for any country.

Guyana, one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers, has seen increasing demand for its light sweet crude, particularly from Europe. In 2024, European buyers ramped up purchases of Guyanese oil, taking 66% of the growing production, Reuters reported in January. OilNOW data shows Europe taking 72% of Guyana’s cargoes since the year started—78% if Turkey is counted. 

All Guyana output is from the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block. In a consortium with Hess and CNOOC, Exxon’s asset has a crude production capacity of more than 650,000 barrels per day (b/d) and is due to increase that number to more than 900,000 b/d by the end of the year.