Imagery Image Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Now Near Texas.
American personnel roped onto the vessel of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for reportedly transporting sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of Texas.
Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 80km from the coast.
The Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple nations. When it was seized, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. This ship – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of fuel left unless her speed decreases”.
The monitoring service added the vessel is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
