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Orbital data and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the oil tanker Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly carrying embargoed oil from Venezuela – 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 Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently places the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.

The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on the tenth of December and has been sanctioned by several governments. When it was seized, it was incorrectly flying the ensign of the nation of Guyana.

This seizure was followed by the interception of a another oil vessel, the Centuries. This ship – in contrast to the Skipper – was not under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.

American agencies are now targeting a third ship, which has been identified by the risk management group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. The US President stated recently that “we’ll end up getting it”.

Writing on X, the maritime monitoring group noted the Bella 1 has been “underway for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 nautical miles per hour, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel left unless her velocity decreases”.

The monitoring service further stated the tanker is “probably traveling south-east towards South Africa”.