Imagery Image Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Now Off Texas.
US personnel boarding the deck of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly carrying sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
Vantor orbital photographs dated 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel 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. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – unlike the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of diesel remaining unless her speed decreases”.
The group added the vessel is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
