Imagery Data Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by US is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
US agents boarding the vessel of the Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring data has verified that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed oil from Venezuela – is now positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently positions the Skipper about 80km from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple nations. When it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the ensign of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. The US President stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The group added the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.
