Satellite Data Shows First Venezuela-Linked Tanker Seized by US is Now Off Texas.
American agents boarding the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and ship tracking data has verified that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.
Vantor satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently places the Skipper about 50 miles from the coast.
The Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple nations. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not yet under official restrictions when it was taken into US custody.
US authorities are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been named by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel left unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.
