Satellite Data Reveals Initial Venezuela-Linked Tanker Confiscated by US is Now Near the Texas Coast.

Satellite imagery and ship tracking information has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly transporting embargoed oil from Venezuela – is now off the coast of Texas.

Vantor orbital photographs from 21 December shows the ship is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 80km from the coast.

The Skipper was seized by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several nations. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.

This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries tanker. This ship – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.

US authorities are now pursuing a third such vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President stated yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.

Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel left unless her speed decreases”.

The monitoring service added the tanker is “probably traveling in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.