Russia Labels U.S Seizure Of Russian Oil Tanker Marinera As ‘Piracy’

In an intense operation on Wednesday, the U.S Navy seized the Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Marinera, earlier known as Bella-1, in the waters between Iceland and the British Isles.

This ended the two-week-long vessel chase, which led to heightening tensions between the two countries over Venezuelan oil exports, sanctioned by the U.S.

The U.S Coast Guard was supported by the cutter USCGC Munro and also by helicopters.

U.S forces boarded the vessel as it violated sanctions by engaging in illicit activities like shipping Iranian and Venezuelan oil.

It all began on December 20, 2025, when USCGC Munro tried to intercept the then Panama-flagged Bella-1 in the Carribean Sea as part of President Trump’s crackdown on the Maduro government’s shadow fleet evading sanctions.

The ship’s crew resisted the boarding attempt and tried to sail towards the Atlantic.

By December 24, 2025, the ship had changed its name to Marinera and flag to Russia, showing a fresh coat of paint after getting a temporary registration from Russia’s Maritime Register out of Sochi.

Russia sent a submarine to protect the tanker from the U.S action, though no confrontation was reported during the boarding of the tanker by U.S forces.

Moscow criticised U.S action, labelling it as ‘piracy’ and a breach of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that guarantees freedom of navigation on the high seas.

The Russian Transport Ministry lost contact with the tanker on January 7, 2026, and now the Russian foreign ministry has demanded that the Russian crew members onboard the ship should be treated humanely and should be sent home as soon as possible.

This incident is a part of a U.S campaign against Venezuela, including the raid on President Maduro’s residence and his subsequent capture on drug charges and the several tanker interdictions which led to deaths of over 100 people.

The U.S also seized another tanker, M/T Sophia, on the same day on similar charges.

Source: Maritime Shipping News