Imagery Data Reveals First Venezuelan Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Off Texas.
US personnel roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has verified that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel seized by the US for allegedly carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the tanker is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service presently places the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several governments. When it was seized, it was falsely flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third vessel, 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 noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her speed decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
