Satellite Image Shows First Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by US is Currently Off Texas.
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 initial vessel seized by the US for reportedly transporting sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently positions the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by several governments. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries tanker. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
US authorities are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President said recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the vessel is “likely traveling in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
