Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by US is Currently Near Texas.
American agents roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic currently positions the Skipper about 50 miles offshore.
The Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. It – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.
American agencies are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group said the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The monitoring service added the vessel is “probably heading south-east towards South Africa”.
