Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by US is Currently Off the Texas Coast.
American agents roped onto the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel seized by the US for allegedly carrying sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is now off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the tanker is near Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently places the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several nations. At the time it was seized, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third such ship, which has been named by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. The US President stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the vessel is “probably heading south-east towards the South African coast”.
