Imagery Data Reveals Initial Venezuelan Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Now Off the Texas Coast.
US agents boarding the deck of the tanker Skipper on December 10th.
Satellite imagery and ship tracking data has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly carrying embargoed oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the tanker is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently positions the Skipper about 50 miles from the coast.
The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple nations. When it was intercepted, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under US custody.
US authorities 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 “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her velocity drops”.
The group added the vessel is “probably traveling south-east towards South Africa”.
