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Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the US for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of Texas.

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

The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by US authorities on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. At the time it was intercepted, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.

This seizure was succeeded by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.

US authorities are now targeting a third such vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. The US President stated yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.

Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her speed decreases”.

The monitoring service added the tanker is “likely heading south-east towards the South African coast”.