On December 21, 2025, the tanker SKIPPER (IMO: 9304667) arrived at the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area (GOLA) to transfer 1.85 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil. The transfer will allow smaller tankers to transport the oil to various refinery terminals in Houston.
This operation is part of ongoing efforts to facilitate the delivery of Venezuelan crude oil to U.S. markets. The transfer process at GOLA is designed to enhance the efficiency of oil transportation by utilizing smaller vessels that can navigate more easily into ports.
For more information on related developments, see recent developments in politics.
