Imagery Image Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Currently Off Texas.
American personnel roped onto the deck of the Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel seized by the US for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic presently places the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several governments. When it was seized, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third such vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her speed drops”.
The group added the vessel is “likely heading south-east towards South Africa”.
