Imagery Data Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
American personnel roped onto the deck of the Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking data has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service presently places the Skipper about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been blacklisted by several nations. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture 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 targeting a third such vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. The US President said recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her velocity decreases”.
The group added the vessel is “probably heading south-east towards the South African coast”.
