Satellite Image Reveals First Venezuelan Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Now Near the Texas Coast.
US personnel roped onto the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.
The Skipper was seized by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several nations. At the time it was intercepted, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into American control.
American agencies are now targeting a third such ship, which has been named by the risk management 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 maritime monitoring group said the Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her speed decreases”.
The monitoring service added the vessel is “likely heading south-east towards the South African coast”.
