Imagery Data Reveals First Venezuelan Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Currently Off Texas.
American agents boarding the deck of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly transporting embargoed oil from Venezuela – is now positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 50 miles offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. At the time it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of Guyana.
This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries tanker. This ship – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under official restrictions when it was taken into American control.
US authorities are currently targeting a third such ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her speed decreases”.
The group added the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.
