Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
US personnel boarding the vessel of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for reportedly transporting sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December shows the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System ship-tracking data from a maritime data service currently places the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several 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 another oil vessel, the Centuries. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are now targeting a third such vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group said the Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her velocity decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
