Imagery Image Shows First Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Now Near Texas.
American personnel boarding the deck of the Skipper on 10 December.
Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela – is now positioned near of Texas.
A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December shows the tanker is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently places the Skipper about 80km offshore.
The tanker Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of Guyana.
This interception was succeeded by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
American agencies are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President stated recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.
Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.
The monitoring service added the vessel is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.
