INDUSTRY BRIEFS

PDV MARINA, the Petroleos de Venezuela SA unit in charge of marine transportation, plans to order four refined products tankers this year for an estimated $40 million each as part of Pdvsa's tanker fleet modernization program. Three of the new vessels will replace four older ones used in coastal service, and the fourth will be used to carry gasoline to the U.S. Pdvsa recently received seven of eight double hulled Lakemax class crude carriers, ordered from a South Korean shipyard, that will