Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by US is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
American agents roped onto the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for allegedly transporting embargoed oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near 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 positions the vessel about 80km offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple nations. At the time it was intercepted, it was incorrectly flying the flag of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under official restrictions when it was taken into American control.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third such vessel, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of diesel remaining unless her speed drops”.
The group further stated the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards South Africa”.
