Imagery Image Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by US is Now Off the Texas Coast.
US personnel boarding the deck of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed oil from Venezuela – is now positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service presently places the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple nations. At the time it was seized, it was falsely sailing under the flag of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third such ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
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 average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “probably traveling south-east towards South Africa”.
