The oil tanker Bella-1 was boarded by the USCGC Munro, a US Coast Guard Legend-class patrol vessel
The oil tanker Bella-1, which had since changed its name to Marinera and started flying the Russian flag, refused to stop and reversed course, leaving the Caribbean and crossing the Atlantic. Russia had sent a submarine to escort the tanker when it was 1000 km from the Azores.
After a two-week pursuit, US forces seized an oil tanker with russian flag in the North Atlantic, when sailing between Iceland and the United Kingdom.
The ship initially continued its journey with destined for Venezuelabut changed the route to avoid US ships, after having escaped an initial interception attempt by the US Coast Guard.
This action is part of a military pressure campaign of the US, which includes the approach of oil tankers that appear on a US sanctions list. The campaign began a month ago, when the US detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
This Wednesday’s action demonstrates that the campaign remains ongoing, says . This Wednesday, it was revealed that Russia had the oil tanker, when it was 1000 km from the Azores.
In response to the seizure, the Russian Transport Ministry said this Wednesday that the tanker “received temporary authorization” to sail under the Russian flag on December 24, 2025, in a translated and shared by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry invoked International Law, adding that “no State has the right to resort to force against duly registered ships in the jurisdictions of other States”.
The ministry did not comment directly on the US accusations that the ship would have been used to circumvent sanctions. According to the Russian Ministry of Transport, after the ship was boarded by United States forces, contact with the vessel was lost.
According to NPR, when the pursuit of the ship began last month, the tanker was called Bella-1 and was on the US sanctions list, being part of the so-called “ghost fleet”, made up of ships involved in transporting oil from countries such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
O Bella-1 refused to stop and reversed coursestarting from the Caribbean and crossing the Atlantic. During the trip, changed name to Marinera and started flying the Russian flag.
Maritime sector analysts say the ship could be heading towards a Russian port in the Arctic when he was intercepted by US forces.
The tanker was intercepted in waters between the United Kingdom and Icelandthe British Ministry of Defense, adding that the United Kingdom provided logistical and provided a base for the operation.
According to the same ministry, the vessel had previously disconnected its communications while sailing, in a apparent attempt to escape to the pursuers.
“This ship, with a notoriously dubious track recordis part of the Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion that fuels terrorismconflict and suffering, from the Middle East to Ukraine”, declared John HealeyBritish Secretary of Defense.
The US Military’s European Command and the Department of Homeland Security reported the seizure on social media, and identified the ship as the Bella-1.
In a related development, a second tanker, the Sophiawas also intercepted in or near the Caribbean Sea. US Southern Command described the ship as “a tanker without flagsanctioned and belonging to the ghost fleet.”
The Sophia “operated in international waters and engaged in illicit activities”, said the US army, adding that the US Coast Guard is now escorting the ship to American territory.
Numa no X, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noemstated that “in two dawn operations, the Coast Guard carried out meticulously coordinated approaches to two tankers from the ‘ghost fleet’. Both Bella-1 and Sophia had been anchored in Venezuela or were on their way to that destination.”
In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two “ghost fleet” tanker ships— one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem)
“One of these tankers, the oil tanker Bella I, has been trying to escape to the Coast Guard for weeks, even changing his flag and painting a new name on his hull while he was being pursued, in a desperate and frustrated attempt to escape justice,” Noem detailed.
“A heroic USCGC Munro crew pursued this vessel on the high seas and through treacherous stormsmaintaining constant vigilance and protecting our country with the determination and patriotism that makes Americans proud. These brave men and women deserve our nation’s gratitude for their selfless dedication to duty,” concluded the Secretary of Homeland Security.
