Imagery Data Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by American Authorities is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
American agents roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the US for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently places the Skipper about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by several nations. When it was seized, it was falsely flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third vessel, which has been named by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1. The US President stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel left unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the tanker is “probably heading south-east towards the South African coast”.
