The Russian tanker Marinera, seized by US and UK forces in the North Atlantic last week, has been pictured as it reached British waters. The vessel was escorted into the Moray Firth in northern Scotland by a US Coast Guard ship and UK tugboats, where it has now dropped anchor. Its transponder has reportedly been turned off, and its final destination remains unclear.
The Marinera was intercepted on January 7 as it travelled between Iceland and Scotland. US forces boarded the ship at around 12pm GMT, after which communications were lost, according to the Russian transport ministry. The vessel is accused of violating US sanctions linked to Venezuelan oil.
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that British forces, including RAF aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce, supported the operation. Defence Secretary John Healey said the action was part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting, describing the ship as part of a "Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion." He added that no UK personnel were involved in the boarding.
Russia condemned the seizure, with the transport ministry stating that no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered under international law. Kremlin adviser Andrei Fedorov warned the move could be seen as an attack on Russia and lead to a crisis in US-Russia relations.
