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Satellite imagery and vessel monitoring information has confirmed that the crude carrier named Skipper – the first vessel apprehended by the US for reportedly carrying sanctioned crude from Venezuela – is now off the coast of Texas.

Vantor orbital photographs dated 21 December indicates the tanker is in the vicinity of the port of Galveston, while AIS vessel-tracking data from a maritime data service currently positions the vessel about 80km from the coast.

The Skipper was seized by American officials on 10 December and has been sanctioned by multiple governments. At the time it was seized, it was falsely flying the flag of Guyana.

This interception was succeeded by the capture of a second tanker, the Centuries tanker. This ship – unlike the Skipper – was not under sanctions when it was brought under US custody.

American agencies are currently pursuing a third ship, which has been identified by the maritime risk group a risk firm as the Bella 1. President Donald Trump said recently that “it will ultimately be secured”.

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

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