Imagery Data Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by US is Currently Off the Texas Coast.
US agents roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking information has verified that the oil tanker Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly transporting embargoed oil from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the ship is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently positions the Skipper about 80km offshore.
The Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the capture of a second tanker, the Centuries. This ship – 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 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 TankerTrackers 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 remaining unless her speed decreases”.
The group added the tanker is “probably heading south-east towards South Africa”.
