US forces reportedly seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, following weeks of monitoring and reports of Russia dispatching naval assets to escort the vessel. The tanker, previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for alleged involvement in illicit cargo transport, was identified as part of a "shadow fleet" facilitating oil transport for sanctioned entities.
Vessel Background and Sanctions
The Marinera, a 300-meter-long crude oil tanker, was reportedly not carrying oil at the time of its seizure. The vessel, formerly named Bella 1, is alleged to be associated with a "shadow fleet" used by entities in Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to circumvent international sanctions.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the vessel, with reports indicating the sanctions were imposed in either June or July 2024. U.S. authorities have accused the tanker of involvement in carrying illicit cargo for a company reportedly owned by Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese organization.
Timeline of Events
The tanker commenced its journey in November from the Gulf of Oman, traversing the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar before crossing the Atlantic in early December.
In December, near Venezuelan waters, the ship's crew reportedly repelled an attempted boarding by U.S. personnel. Following this incident, the vessel altered its course toward the Atlantic, was renamed Marinera, its hull was painted with a Russian flag, and it was registered with an official Russian shipping registry.
On December 15, the vessel changed its course near the Caribbean, turning back toward Europe amidst U.S. actions targeting vessels operating near Venezuela. Its return journey across the Atlantic was noted by marine transport experts as unusual, deviating north between Iceland and Ireland instead of following typical shipping routes.
On Wednesday, the Marinera was approaching Iceland's exclusive economic zone when it was reportedly seized by U.S. forces. Hours before the seizure, Washington announced the ship had been apprehended for "violations of US sanctions."
Diplomatic and Military Responses
Moscow subsequently issued a formal diplomatic protest, requesting that Washington cease its monitoring of the tanker. Russia's Foreign Ministry stated on Tuesday that it was observing the situation with concern.
According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Russia dispatched a submarine and additional naval vessels on Wednesday to escort the tanker, which was understood to be heading towards Murmansk in northern Russia. The precise rendezvous point for the Russian navy and the vessel was not specified.
The U.S. military maintained close surveillance of the Marinera for several days. U.S. P-8 surveillance aircraft, operating from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, reportedly monitored the vessel during its Atlantic transit. A British Royal Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint surveillance plane also reportedly flew over the vessel's route, with the UK military confirming it provided "pre-planned operational support, including basing." This coincided with the arrival of approximately ten U.S. military transport aircraft, including C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and several helicopters in the UK as the oil tanker entered European waters.
The U.S. military's Southern Command affirmed its readiness to support other U.S. government agencies in addressing sanctions-affected vessels in the region, noting that American naval forces were closely monitoring ships of interest.
Broader Context
Registry data examined by the New York Times indicates that at least three other oil tankers recently active in Venezuelan waters have since been reflagged under Russian registry, suggesting a pattern of Moscow extending its official registry to vessels facing U.S. sanctions.
Craig Kennedy, an associate at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, suggested that Moscow's decision to register the ship may have aimed to leverage the situation by circumventing a U.S. naval blockade on tankers operating near Venezuela, potentially anticipating that the U.S. would not board a Russian-flagged vessel.