Imagery Image Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by US is Currently Off Texas.
US agents roped onto the deck of the Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly transporting embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is now positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December shows the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by multiple nations. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture of a second tanker, the Centuries. It – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under official restrictions when it was taken into American control.
American agencies are currently targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The group added the vessel is “likely heading south-east towards the South African coast”.
