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Orbital data and ship tracking data has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel seized by the US for allegedly transporting embargoed crude from Venezuela – is currently positioned near of Texas.

Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System ship-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently places the Skipper about 50 miles from the coast.

The Skipper was seized by US authorities on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. When it was intercepted, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.

This interception was succeeded by the interception of a another tanker, the Centuries. It – unlike the Skipper – was not yet under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.

American agencies are currently pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.

Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel left unless her velocity decreases”.

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