Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG)

Additional Details

Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) is a leading American shipping company and a major provider of energy transportation services. OSG has long-term supply and logistics contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense (a government agency) and its affiliated agencies. Under these agreements, the company's tankers (such as the well-known Overseas Santorini and Overseas Sun Coast) transport military jet fuel and petroleum products from U.S. refineries (such as the Corpus Christi refinery in Texas) and deliver them directly to Israeli ports (such as the port of Ashkelon). These shipments are part of the U.S. military and logistical assistance program to Israel, and OSG acts as the chartered carrier for this purpose. OSG plays a pivotal logistical role in sustaining Israeli military operations, particularly those of the Israeli Air Force, by securing the supply chains of military fuel from the United States to Israel. The company's tankers transport massive quantities of high-quality JP-8 military jet fuel and petroleum products intended for the war effort. This fuel is the lifeblood of Israeli fighter jets of various models (such as the F-16 and F-35) that carry out airstrikes and combat operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and the region. Oil Change International (an organization specializing in energy and environmental research), in collaboration with the investigative research center Data Desk, published a series of comprehensive reports and investigations tracking ship movements using the Automatic Identification System (AIS) and customs shipping data. The investigation revealed regular, periodic voyages by the company's tankers, such as the Overseas Santorini and Overseas Sun Coast, loading JP-8 military jet fuel at the Valero refinery in Texas, USA, and unloading it directly at the port of Ashkelon. The investigation indicated that each shipment transported by OSG vessels contains approximately 300,000 barrels of jet fuel. According to military experts' estimates in the report, this quantity is sufficient to secure approximately 12,000 sorties for Israeli fighter jets (such as F-16s and F-35s) used in bombing the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.