Satellite Data Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Currently Off Texas.
American agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking data has verified that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly transporting embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently places the Skipper about 50 miles from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several nations. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities are now pursuing a third ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her velocity drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
