Satellite Image Shows First Venezuelan Tanker Confiscated by American Authorities is Now Off Texas.
American agents roped onto the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December.
Orbital data and ship tracking information has verified that the oil tanker Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly carrying embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently positioned near of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December shows the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from a maritime data service presently places the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.
The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. When it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the ensign of Guyana.
This seizure was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into American control.
American agencies are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.
Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group said 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 monitoring service further stated the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
