Satellite Data Reveals Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Confiscated by US is Currently Near the Texas Coast.
US agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Orbital data and ship tracking data has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly transporting embargoed oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December shows the tanker 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 American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. At the time it was intercepted, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was followed by the capture of a another oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was taken into American control.
American agencies are currently pursuing a third such ship, which has been identified 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 noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her velocity decreases”.
The group added the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.