The United States has seized the oil tanker Marinera in the Atlantic Ocean, with assistance from the United Kingdom, after a days-long pursuit. The vessel, which is Russian-flagged and sanctioned by the US Treasury, was boarded by US Coast Guard personnel on Wednesday.
The Marinera is alleged to be part of a shadow fleet used by Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to evade Western sanctions. It had no oil onboard at the time of seizure, but speculation suggests it may have been carrying illicit cargo, possibly including Russian weapons. The ship was previously known as Bella 1 and changed its name and flag to Russian in recent weeks.
The US Treasury had sanctioned the Marinera in June 2024 over accusations of carrying illicit cargo for Hezbollah. The US Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December, but the crew refused. This time, the operation succeeded, though Moscow had lodged a formal diplomatic protest against the pursuit.
Russia dispatched naval assets, including a submarine, to escort the tanker, according to reports. A British Royal Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint surveillance plane was also observed flying over the ship's path, indicating UK involvement in the operation.
Craig Kennedy, an associate at Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, said the seizure represents a significant escalation. "To seize a Russian-flagged ship on the high seas is to disregard Russia's claims of exclusive jurisdiction over the vessel," he noted, adding that Moscow may have miscalculated Washington's resolve.
