Satellite Image Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Currently Near Texas.
American agents roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly transporting embargoed oil from the Venezuelan regime – is now positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December shows the ship is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service presently places the Skipper about 80km offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several nations. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
American agencies are currently targeting a third such vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group said the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of diesel remaining unless her speed decreases”.
The group further stated the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
