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Satellite imagery and ship tracking data has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the initial vessel apprehended by the US for allegedly carrying embargoed crude from Venezuela – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.

Vantor satellite imagery dated 21 December shows the ship is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic presently positions the vessel about 80km from the coast.

The tanker Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by several nations. At the time it was seized, it was incorrectly sailing under the ensign of the nation of Guyana.

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

American agencies are now pursuing a third vessel, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1 tanker. President Donald Trump stated 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 39 days” and, at an average speed of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of diesel remaining unless her velocity drops”.

The monitoring service added the tanker is “probably heading south-east towards South Africa”.