Satellite Data Reveals Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by US is Now Near the Texas Coast.
American agents roped onto the deck of the Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for reportedly transporting sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.
Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. At the time it was seized, it was falsely flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was taken into American control.
US authorities are currently targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her velocity decreases”.
The monitoring service added the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.
