Satellite Image Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by US is Now Near Texas.
American agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring data has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for reportedly carrying sanctioned oil 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 ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently positions the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was seized by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by multiple nations. At the time it was seized, it was falsely flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.
American agencies are now targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
