The saga of Venezuela's sanctioned oil continues to unfold, with a key player now making waves off the coast of Texas. Let's dive into the details.
BBC Verify has confirmed through satellite imagery and ship-tracking data that the oil tanker Skipper, the first vessel seized by the US for allegedly carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil, is currently situated near Galveston, Texas.
Satellite images from December 21st show its location. Furthermore, AIS ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic pinpoints the Skipper approximately 80km (50 miles) offshore.
The Skipper was seized by US authorities on December 10th and has faced sanctions from multiple governments. Interestingly, at the time of seizure, it was sailing under a false flag, pretending to be from Guyana.
Following the Skipper's seizure, another tanker, Centuries, was also intercepted. However, unlike the Skipper, the Centuries wasn't under sanctions when it was taken into US custody.
But here's where it gets interesting: US authorities are now targeting a third vessel, identified as Bella 1 by the risk management group Vanguard. Former President Donald Trump has even weighed in, stating, "we'll end up getting it."
According to the TankerTrackers group, Bella 1 has been in transit for 39 days. Based on its average speed of 11 knots, the group estimates the vessel has fuel for another 28 to 35 days, unless its speed decreases. They also suggest it's likely headed towards South Africa.
This situation raises a few questions: What are the implications of these seizures on the global oil market? How effective are sanctions in curbing the transport of sanctioned oil? And what impact will these actions have on the involved countries? What are your thoughts on this? Share your opinions in the comments below!
