Imagery Data Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Now Off the Texas Coast.
American agents boarding the deck of the Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and ship tracking data has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the US for reportedly carrying sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the ship is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several governments. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
US authorities are now targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel left unless her velocity drops”.
The monitoring service further stated the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.
