Imagery Image Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by US is Now Off the Texas Coast.
American agents boarding the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and ship tracking information has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is now off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 80km offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several governments. When it was intercepted, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on 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 “approximately a month of diesel left unless her speed decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.
