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Russian Flag, Name Change, New Registration: How Bella 1 Tried Escaping US Forces
Russian Flag, Name Change, New Registration: How Bella 1 Tried Escaping US Forces
In a dramatic chase that lasted for almost two weeks, the United States on Wednesday finally seized the oil tanker — Marinera — in the North Atlantic. According to reports, the vessel, formerly called Bella 1, had been trying to avoid US sanctions targeting oil shipments linked to Venezuela, Iran and Russia.
American forces “seized" the ship for violating US sanctions, the US military said in a statement. Notably, it is believed that this is the first time in recent years that the US has seized a Russian-flagged vessel.
The Coast Guard boarded the tanker following the chase, even after Russia had sent a naval vessel to escort it. The tanker began its journey in Iran and departed the Gulf of Oman in November. It passed through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar before crossing the Atlantic in early December.
Reportedly, the ship was heading to Venezuela to collect oil at a time when Washington enforced sanctions on Venezuelan energy exports.
The US Coast Guard on December 21 stopped the vessel for the first time in the Caribbean Sea. At that point, the tanker was still operating under the name Bella 1.
Since the ship was not flying a valid national flag, the US authorities said they had a seizure warrant. However, the crew refused to allow the Coast Guard to board. The US forces continued to track it.
When the US forces kept tracking the ship, the vessel crew in order to shield the ship from US seizure, painted the flag onto the hull as a Russian flag. This was done as international law treats ships as being under the protection of the country whose flag they fly.
But US officials said this effort failed because the vessel had not been flying a valid national flag when it was first approached by the Coast Guard.
Following this, the ship changed its identity. Bella 1 was reborn as Marinera and added to Russia's official shipping registry, with Sochi on the Black Sea listed as its home port.
Notably, the vessel has grabbed attention not for the cargo it was carrying, but for how it tried to escape US authorities. In an attempt to avoid capture, the crew changed the ship's name to Marinera, painted a Russian flag on its side, and even updated its official registration to Russia.
Russia, through diplomatic channels, made a formal request asking the United States to halt its pursuit of the tanker. Despite this, the chase continued. US authorities maintained that the tanker was accused of violating sanctions and of transporting Iranian oil.
As US pressure on Venezuela intensified, the vessel changed its route. On December 15, it stopped near the Caribbean and reversed direction, heading back towards Europe.
According to reports, Russia went further to protect the ship, however, multiple Western surveillance flights were seen over the vessel. These included aircraft from US bases in Iceland and RAF Rivet Joint and P-8 Poseidon planes from the UK, which are capable of detecting submarines.
On Wednesday, the US Coast Guard finally boarded and seized the vessel in the North Atlantic. The US military confirmed the action on X, saying the tanker had been taken for breaching sanctions.
The seizure of the Marinera has heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, particularly amid reports that Russian naval assets, including a submarine, were operating in the vicinity during the US operation.
The tanker is believed to be part of the “shadow fleet" used to transport oil for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. In 2024, the United States sanctioned it over allegations that it carried illicit cargo for a Hezbollah-owned company. Although initial reports suggest the vessel was empty at the time of seizure, Moscow's efforts to protect it have raised questions about why Russia was willing to risk a standoff with the United States.
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Source: News18
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