Imagery Data Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Off Texas.
US agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently places the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a second tanker, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was taken into American control.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her speed drops”.
The monitoring service added the vessel is “probably traveling south-east towards South Africa”.
