Russia has reportedly deployed a submarine and other naval vessels to escort a "shadow fleet" oil tanker that is being pursued by the United States across the Atlantic Ocean, in a dramatic escalation of a weeks-long maritime chase.
A High-Seas Pursuit Across the Atlantic
The vessel at the centre of the standoff, formerly named the Bella 1, has spent more than two weeks attempting to evade a US blockade targeting sanctions-hit oil tankers operating near Venezuela. According to ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic, the tanker was nearing Iceland's exclusive economic zone on Wednesday, having journeyed from Iran with an initial destination of Venezuela to collect oil.
This ship is part of a so-called "shadow fleet" used to transport oil for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, circumventing sanctions imposed by the US and its allies. In a significant development in December, the tanker's crew repelled an attempted US boarding near Venezuelan waters before abruptly changing course into the open Atlantic.
Diplomatic Protests and a Rapid Rebranding
In a bid to claim protection, the vessel was hastily rebranded. Its crew painted a Russian flag on the hull, and it was renamed the Marinera and added to an official Russian shipping registry. Following this, Moscow lodged a formal diplomatic protest, demanding that Washington cease its pursuit of the tanker, which it believes is heading for the Russian port of Murmansk.
The US Treasury has had the tanker under sanctions since July 2024, accusing it of carrying illicit cargo for a company owned by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group. Russia's state-run outlet RT posted video footage it claimed was filmed from the tanker's deck, showing a US Coast Guard vessel trailing it.
Military Buildup and Rising Tensions
The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia dispatched the submarine and supporting naval assets on Wednesday. While the exact rendezvous point for the Russian navy remains unclear, the tanker's movement into European waters has coincided with a notable US military buildup. Approximately 10 US military transport aircraft and several helicopters recently arrived in the UK, underscoring the heightened state of alert.
The Russian foreign ministry stated on Tuesday that it was monitoring the situation "with concern." This incident marks one of the most direct and public confrontations between Russian and US interests on the high seas since the implementation of widespread energy sanctions, highlighting the ongoing global tensions over shadow fleet operations.
