Imagery Image Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Near Texas.
US agents roped onto the vessel of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified 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 Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic presently places the Skipper about 80km offshore.
The Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by several governments. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
American agencies are currently targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the tanker is “probably traveling in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
