Satellite Data Shows Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by US is Now Off the Texas Coast.
American agents boarding the vessel of the Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking data has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the US for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude from the Venezuelan regime – is now positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic presently positions the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple nations. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.
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. The US President said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards South Africa”.
