US seizes Marinera, Russian‑flagged tanker tied to Venezuelan shadow fleet

Independent.co reports US forces boarded and seized the Marinera, a Russian-flagged oil tanker formerly known as Bella-1, on Wednesday as it travelled north and east between Iceland and Scotland after what the US described as a two-week pursuit across the Atlantic. The US European Command said the seizure was for "violations of US sanctions" and that it supports a presidential proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels.

The Marinera is described as part of a Venezuelan "shadow fleet"; sources say it was empty, hastily renamed from Bella 1 and painted with a Russian flag amid reports that a Russian naval escort had joined the vessel. Separately, the US Southern Command said it had apprehended the sanctioned motor tanker M/T Sophia in international waters and was escorting it to the US.

The actions follow US forces entering Venezuela on Saturday to seize its now-deposed president, Nicolas Maduro, who is in New York facing drug charges. Tracking data posted by observers showed the Marinera facing east-by-south-east towards northern Scotland or Shetland after the boarding.

Key Topics

World, Marinera, M/t Sophia, Venezuelan Shadow Fleet, Us European Command, Nicolas Maduro