Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Off Texas.
American personnel roped onto the deck of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking information has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the tanker is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic presently positions the Skipper about 50 miles from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by several governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a second tanker, the Centuries tanker. This ship – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was taken into American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group said the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her speed drops”.
The group further stated the tanker is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.
