Imagery Data Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Off the Texas Coast.
American personnel roped onto the deck of the Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and ship tracking data has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly transporting sanctioned crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service presently places the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. 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 – unlike the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are currently targeting a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. The US President said recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “probably heading south-east towards the South African coast”.
