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Satellite imagery and ship tracking information has verified that the oil tanker named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly transporting embargoed crude from the Venezuelan regime – is now off the coast of the state of Texas.

Vantor satellite imagery from 21 December indicates the ship is near Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service presently places the Skipper 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 seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the flag of the nation of Guyana.

This seizure was followed by the interception of a second oil vessel, the Centuries tanker. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.

American agencies are now targeting a third vessel, which has been named by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump said recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.

Writing on the social media platform X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “in transit for over a month” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “approximately a month of fuel remaining unless her velocity decreases”.

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