Imagery Data Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Now Near Texas.
US agents roped onto the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly transporting embargoed crude from Venezuela – is now off the coast of Texas.
Vantor orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the ship is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently places the Skipper about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several nations. When it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third such vessel, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm 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 Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the vessel is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.
