Satellite Data Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by US is Now Off the Texas Coast.
American personnel boarding the vessel of the Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the US for reportedly carrying sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System ship-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 80km offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several nations. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was taken into US custody.
American agencies are currently targeting a third such vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her speed drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
