Satellite Data Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Off the Texas Coast.
American agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 80km from the coast.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the capture of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are currently targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President said recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her speed drops”.
The monitoring service added the tanker is “likely heading south-east towards South Africa”.
