Satellite Image Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Off Texas.
American personnel roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking information has verified that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly carrying embargoed oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December shows the ship is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the Skipper about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been blacklisted by several nations. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was taken into American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third such ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said recently 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 “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her speed drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.
