Satellite Data Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by US is Now Off the Texas Coast.
American agents boarding the vessel of the Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking information has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic currently positions the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.
The Skipper was seized 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 Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.
American agencies are now pursuing a third such vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated 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 typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her speed drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “probably traveling in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
