Satellite Image Reveals Initial Venezuelan Tanker Confiscated by US is Currently Off Texas.
American personnel roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the ship is near the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently positions the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. When it was seized, it was falsely flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.
American agencies are currently targeting a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
