Imagery Image Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Now Off Texas.
American agents boarding the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several governments. At the time it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a another oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her velocity drops”.
The monitoring service further stated the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards South Africa”.