Shadow oil tanker rebrands under Russian flag during U.S. pursuit

As the U.S. military chased a dilapidated oil tanker away from Venezuela and across the Atlantic, the vessel previously known as the Bella 1 rebranded itself as the Marinera and the crew painted a Russian tricolor on the hull; American forces intercepted the ship between Iceland and Scotland, the Times reported.

Maritime experts told the paper the haste to assume a Russian identity was likely intended to deter U.S. pursuit and raise the prospect of a Russian response, but Russia so far has not mounted a significant reaction. A Times analysis found five tankers that operated recently in Venezuelan waters, including the Marinera, switched their flags to Russia in recent days; all have been subject to U.S.

sanctions for shipping Iranian or Russian oil. The episode fits a broader trend: Lloyd’s List reported 17 shadow fleet tankers took on the Russian flag last month and more than 40 have done so since last June. For years such aged vessels have helped states like Venezuela, Iran and Russia — and nonstate actors — evade sanctions by flying flags of convenience or none at all.

American officials said the Guyana flag the Bella 1 used was fake, making it stateless and susceptible to boarding when the U.S. Coast Guard approached on Dec. 20; as the ship fled it was added to the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping and Moscow made a diplomatic request to stop the pursuit.

Key Topics

World, Marinera, Shadow Fleet, U.s. Coast Guard, Venezuela, Russia