Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by US is Currently Near Texas.
American agents roped onto the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and ship tracking information has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly carrying embargoed crude from Venezuela – is now off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December shows the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System ship-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently places the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The Skipper was seized by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several nations. When it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
American agencies are now pursuing a third such vessel, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel left unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.
