Imagery Data Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
US personnel boarding the deck of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed oil from Venezuela – is now off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic presently places the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 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 succeeded by the capture of a another tanker, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
American agencies are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her speed decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “likely traveling in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
