U.S. seizes Russian-flagged tanker in North Atlantic and intercepts second ship

The U.S. military seized two oil tankers on Wednesday, including a Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland, saying the ships had violated U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the Russian-flagged tanker after a roughly two-week pursuit, according to a U.S.

official briefed on the operation, and encountered no resistance. The ship, known until recently as the Bella 1 and now called the Marinera, had been re-registered with Russia; U.S. officials said Russia had sent at least one naval vessel to meet and escort it but that no Russian ships were in the vicinity when the Coast Guard boarded.

Britain said it provided air surveillance and naval support. Separately, U.S. forces also apprehended a stateless, sanctioned vessel identified as the M/T Sophia in international waters in the Caribbean, which the U.S. said was being escorted to the United States. The Treasury Department had placed that ship under sanctions last January.

The actions come as the Trump administration signals continued control over Venezuela's oil sales after the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

Key Topics

World, Marinera, M/t Sophia, U.s. Coast Guard, Venezuelan Oil, Russia