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Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for allegedly transporting embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is now positioned near of Texas.

Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the ship is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 80km from the coast.

The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by several governments. When it was seized, it was falsely sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.

This interception was followed by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – in contrast to the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.

American agencies are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.

Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her speed drops”.

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