Imagery Image Shows Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
American agents roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly transporting embargoed crude from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
Vantor orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the ship is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic presently positions the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “likely traveling in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
