Imagery Data Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Currently Off the Texas Coast.
US personnel boarding the deck of the Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly carrying sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic currently positions the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple nations. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign 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 under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
American agencies are currently targeting a third such ship, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group said the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The monitoring service further stated the vessel is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.
