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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 oil from the Venezuelan regime – is now positioned near of the state of Texas.

A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the tanker is near the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently positions the Skipper about 80km from the coast.

The tanker Skipper was seized by US authorities on the tenth of December and has been blacklisted by multiple nations. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the flag of Guyana.

This seizure was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. This ship – unlike the first vessel – was not yet under official restrictions when it was taken into American control.

American agencies are now targeting a third ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group Vanguard as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.

Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel 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 added the tanker is “likely traveling south-east towards the South African coast”.