Satellite Data Shows Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by US is Now Off Texas.
US agents boarding the deck of the Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic presently positions the Skipper about 80km offshore.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several nations. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a second tanker, the Centuries tanker. It – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under official restrictions when it was taken into American control.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third such vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her speed drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.
