Satellite Data Shows Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Now Near the Texas Coast.
American agents boarding the vessel of the Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.
Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is near Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic presently places the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several nations. At the time it was intercepted, it was incorrectly flying the flag of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a another tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her speed drops”.
The group further stated the vessel is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
