Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Now Off the Texas Coast.
US agents roped onto the vessel of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from Venezuela – is now off the coast of Texas.
Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service presently positions the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. When it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the capture of a another tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.
American agencies are now targeting a third ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her speed drops”.
The monitoring service further stated the vessel is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
