US monitors Russian-protected oil tanker fled from Caribbean
Originally named Bella 1, the vessel was sanctioned by the US in 2024 for alleged involvement in illicit oil transport linked to Iranian crude and other blacklisted entities. When US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board the ship near Venezuela, the crew turned sharply and sailed into the Atlantic, evading capture.
The tanker was later renamed Marinera and registered under Russian jurisdiction, with its crew painting a Russian flag on the hull and claiming protection from Moscow. Russia has since added the ship to its official registry and demanded that the US halt its pursuit, complicating potential seizure under international maritime law.
Recent tracking shows the vessel moving northeast in the North Atlantic, approximately 250 miles off the coast of Ireland and heading toward the North Sea. Despite Russia’s involvement, US authorities are continuing to plan for possible interception of the tanker and other sanctioned vessels, while surveillance remains intensified.
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