🔗 Share this article Imagery Image Shows Initial Venezuela-Linked Oil Ship Seized by American Authorities is Now Near Texas. American agents boarding the vessel of the tanker Skipper on 10 December. Orbital data and ship tracking data has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly transporting sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is now positioned near of the state of Texas. Vantor orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while AIS ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic presently places the vessel about 50 miles offshore. The Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several nations. At the time it was seized, it was falsely sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana. This interception was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under official restrictions when it was taken into US custody. US authorities are now targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said recently that “we’ll end up getting it”. Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her speed decreases”. The group further stated the vessel is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.