Satellite Data Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Currently Off Texas.
American agents roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly transporting embargoed crude from Venezuela – is now positioned near of Texas.
Vantor orbital photographs from 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 80km from the coast.
The Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. At the time it was intercepted, it was falsely sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the interception of a second 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 now pursuing a third ship, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform 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 remaining unless her speed decreases”.
The group added the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.
