Satellite Data Reveals Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by US is Currently Near Texas.
American agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the crude carrier Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity 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 seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by several nations. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. This ship – in contrast to the Skipper – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
American agencies are now targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her velocity decreases”.
The group further stated the vessel is “probably heading south-east towards South Africa”.
