Imagery Image Reveals Initial Venezuelan Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Now Near Texas.

Orbital data and vessel monitoring data has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel seized by the US for allegedly transporting embargoed crude from Venezuela – is now positioned near of the state of Texas.

A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the ship is in the vicinity of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from MarineTraffic currently positions the Skipper about 80km from the coast.

The Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of Guyana.

This interception was succeeded by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.

US authorities are currently targeting a third such ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.

Writing on the social media platform X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of diesel remaining unless her speed drops”.

The monitoring service further stated the tanker is “probably heading in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.