Scotland's First Minister has expressed serious dismay after discovering a seized oil tanker was brought into Scottish waters without his government being formally notified.
First Minister Learns of Incident from Media
John Swinney stated he was "deeply concerned" to have learned about the presence of the Russian-flagged vessel Marinera in the Moray Firth from press reports. The tanker, previously named the Bella-1 and linked to Venezuela, was captured in the North Atlantic in an operation involving US forces last week.
Speaking to the Press Association on Wednesday 14 January 2026, Mr Swinney made his frustration clear. He said he would have expected an advance briefing from Westminster before the ship was accommodated so close to the Scottish mainland.
Details of the Tanker's Seizure and Movement
The Marinera was intercepted and seized by US forces in the North Atlantic, with the operation receiving support from UK military assets. It was subsequently escorted to a location within the Moray Firth on Tuesday. The move was reportedly to allow for provisions to be taken aboard for the crew.
While UK forces assisted, they did not board the vessel directly. The tanker had been pursued across the Atlantic Ocean before its capture.
Swinney Demands Better Communication from Westminster
The First Minister has now formally raised the issue with the United Kingdom Government. "It is not appropriate for the Scottish Government to learn about these issues through media reports," Mr Swinney asserted.
He emphasised that there must be a protocol for advanced briefing on such matters and confirmed he is insisting on this change in procedure to prevent a repeat of the communication failure.
