Imagery Image Reveals Initial Venezuelan Tanker Seized by US is Currently Near the Texas Coast.

Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.

A satellite firm's orbital photographs dated 21 December shows the ship is near the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.

The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple nations. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the flag of Guyana.

This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries tanker. It – unlike the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.

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

Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel left unless her velocity decreases”.

The monitoring service added the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.