Satellite Data Reveals First Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Now Near Texas.
US personnel boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has verified that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for reportedly transporting sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is now off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service presently positions the Skipper about 80km offshore.
The Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are now targeting a third vessel, which has been named by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The group further stated the vessel is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
