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Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring data has verified that the crude carrier named Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly carrying embargoed oil from the Venezuelan regime – is now off the coast of Texas.

A satellite firm's orbital photographs from 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking feeds from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.

The Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several governments. When it was intercepted, it was falsely sailing under the ensign of Guyana.

This interception was succeeded by the capture of a second oil vessel, the Centuries. It – unlike the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was brought under American control.

US authorities are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been named by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. The US President said yesterday that “we’ll end up getting it”.

Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group said the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel remaining unless her velocity drops”.

The monitoring service added the tanker is “probably traveling in a southeasterly direction towards South Africa”.