Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Currently Off Texas.
American personnel roped onto the vessel of the Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed oil from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic currently positions the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. When it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third such vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President said recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her speed drops”.
The group added the vessel is “probably heading south-east towards South Africa”.
