Satellite Data Reveals Initial Venezuelan Tanker Seized by American Authorities is Now Near Texas.

Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the oil tanker Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the United States for allegedly transporting embargoed oil from Venezuela – is now off the coast of the state of Texas.

A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service presently positions the Skipper about 80km from the coast.

The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been blacklisted by several governments. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.

This interception was followed by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. It – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under American control.

American agencies are now targeting a third ship, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.

Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her speed decreases”.

The monitoring service further stated the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards South Africa”.