Satellite Data Shows First Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Currently Off Texas.
American agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly carrying embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is now positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the Skipper about 50 miles from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several nations. At the time it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – unlike the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was taken into US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been named by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel left unless her velocity decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “likely heading south-east towards the South African coast”.
