Satellite Data Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Currently Off the Texas Coast.
US agents boarding the vessel of the Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude from the Venezuelan regime – is now off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic currently positions the Skipper about 80km offshore.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. At the time it was intercepted, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – unlike the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third such vessel, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President stated yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel left unless her velocity decreases”.
The monitoring service further stated the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards South Africa”.
