Satellite Data Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by US is Currently Off the Texas Coast.
US agents roped onto the vessel of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly transporting sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic currently places the vessel about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several nations. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – unlike the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated 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 typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The group added the tanker is “probably traveling south-east towards South Africa”.
