Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Confiscated by American Authorities is Currently Near Texas.
US agents roped onto the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela – is now off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the ship is near the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the flag of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was taken into American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group said the Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The monitoring service added the vessel is “likely traveling in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.
