Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by US is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
American agents boarding the vessel of the Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking information has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently places the vessel about 80km offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple nations. At the time it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third such ship, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated yesterday 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 average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her speed decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “probably heading south-east towards South Africa”.
