Russia Sends Navy To Guard Oil Tanker Being Tracked By US
Russia has sent naval forces, including at least one submarine, to escort an oil tanker that US authorities have been tracking for weeks as the vessel sails through the North Atlantic. The tanker, now called Marinera, is moving between Iceland and the British Isles while American aircraft and ships continue to shadow it.
The ship was previously known as Bella 1 and has a long history of carrying sanctioned oil linked to Iran, Venezuela and Russia. US officials say it is part of a “shadow fleet” used to move oil despite international restrictions. Although the tanker is currently believed to be empty, Washington accuses it of repeatedly breaking sanctions. The vessel was also reportedly reflagged as Russian mid-voyage, after previously sailing under a Guyanese flag.
US forces first tried to board the tanker in the Caribbean last month, armed with a seizure warrant. That attempt failed when the crew refused access and suddenly altered course, heading into the Atlantic. Since then, the chase has intensified. Ship-tracking data places the Marinera hundreds of kilometres south of Iceland, while flight data shows US surveillance planes, refuelling tankers and special operations aircraft monitoring the area from bases including the UK.
On Tuesday, US officials confirmed that Russia had dispatched naval assets to protect the ship. Moscow has also lodged diplomatic protests over the pursuit and says the tanker is operating lawfully. “At present, our vessel is sailing in the international waters of the North Atlantic under the state flag of the Russian Federation and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law,” Russia’s foreign ministry said. It added that the ship was facing “increased and clearly disproportionate attention”.
The US military has made clear it is not backing off. Southern Command said it “remains ready to support our US government agency partners in standing against sanctioned vessels and actors transiting through this region,” stressing that American forces are closely tracking ships of interest. Two US officials told CBS News that Washington would rather seize the tanker than sink it.
Analysts say Russia’s decision to reflag the vessel complicates enforcement but does not erase its past. US action, experts note, is based on ownership networks and sanctions history rather than a ship’s painted flag or name. Still, placing the tanker under the Russian registry removes certain legal options that would otherwise allow foreign authorities to board it.
The standoff comes as more sanctioned tankers adopt Russian flags. Since recent US seizures and pressure on Venezuela, multiple vessels linked to Iranian and Venezuelan oil have switched registries, with some declaring Russian ports as their new home. The pattern suggests the Marinera may not be the last ship to test how far the confrontation between Washington and Moscow is willing to go.
