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Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel seized by the United States for reportedly carrying sanctioned crude from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.

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

The Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of Guyana.

This interception was followed by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the first vessel – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.

American agencies are currently targeting a third 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 “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her velocity drops”.

The monitoring service added the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards South Africa”.