Satellite Image Reveals Initial Venezuelan Tanker Seized by US is Now Near Texas.

Orbital data and ship tracking data has verified that the crude carrier Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly transporting embargoed oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.

Vantor orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the ship is near Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently positions the vessel about 80km offshore.

The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been blacklisted by several nations. At the time it was intercepted, it was falsely flying the flag of Guyana.

This seizure was followed by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under American control.

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

Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her speed drops”.

The group added the vessel is “likely traveling in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.