US forces have seized the Marinera, a 300-metre oil tanker that had been tracked for days as it moved north through the Atlantic, in an operation that drew attention from multiple governments and militaries.
According to reporting, the ship was not carrying oil at the time it was boarded, but officials and analysts said it remained of interest because of its links to sanctions-evasion networks and wider geopolitical tensions. The vessel has been described as part of the “shadow” or “ghost” fleets used by countries including Russia, Iran and Venezuela to move cargo and fuel while attempting to avoid western sanctions.
The tanker—previously known as Bella 1—had reportedly evaded capture in the Caribbean in December, changed its name, and altered course toward northern Russia before being boarded in the Atlantic. It was already under US Treasury sanctions dating back to July 2024, over allegations it carried illicit cargo linked to Hezbollah.
The case has drawn additional scrutiny because the Marinera was recently registered and flagged under Russia, including the crew painting a Russian flag on its hull. Moscow lodged a diplomatic protest over the US pursuit, and the report said Russia dispatched naval assets to escort the tanker in the days before the boarding. Washington said the ship was seized for “violations of US sanctions.”
The report also noted signs of allied monitoring: US surveillance aircraft tracked the ship, and flight data suggested a UK RAF Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft operated in the same Atlantic area. UK officials were quoted describing their role as providing pre-planned operational support, including basing.
