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Satellite imagery and ship tracking data has confirmed that the crude carrier Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the United States for reportedly carrying sanctioned oil from the Venezuelan regime – is currently off the coast of the state of Texas.

A satellite firm's satellite imagery from 21 December shows the ship is near the port of Galveston, while Automatic Identification System vessel-tracking feeds from MarineTraffic currently positions the vessel about 50 miles from the coast.

The tanker Skipper was taken into custody by American officials on 10 December and has been blacklisted by multiple governments. At the time it was seized, it was falsely flying the flag of the nation of Guyana.

This interception was followed by the interception of a second tanker, the Centuries. It – in contrast to the Skipper – was not yet under official restrictions when it was brought under American control.

American agencies are currently targeting a third vessel, which has been identified by the risk management group Vanguard as the Bella 1. The US President said yesterday that “it will ultimately be secured”.

Writing on X, the TankerTrackers group noted the vessel Bella 1 has been “in transit for 39 days” and, at an typical pace of 11 knots, may have “another 28 to 35 days of fuel left unless her velocity drops”.

The group added the tanker is “likely heading in a southeasterly direction towards the South African coast”.