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US military confirms seizure of Russian-flagged tanker
The US European Command has now confirmed the seizure of the tanker.
In a post on X, it said:
“The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the@DeptofWar, today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions.
The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.”
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The latest tracking information, via TankerTrackers, shows Marinera or Bella 1 changing its course to east-by-southeast after the interception, with the service speculating it could be going in the direction of Scotland.
In the meantime, we also got the confirmation of the second, and completely separate, seizure of a Venezuela-linked tanker in international waters in the Carribean Sea (13:43).
The US Southern Command said on X:
“In a pre-dawn action this morning, the Department of War, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended a stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker without incident.
The interdicted vessel, M/T Sophia, was operating in international waters and conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is escorting M/T Sophia to the U.S. for final disposition.
Through Operation Southern Spear, the Department of War is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere. We will defend our Homeland and restore security and strength across the Americas.”
And here’s the screengrab from footage published by Russian state media purporting to show a US helicopter approaching the Marinera that Dan Sabbagh referenced earlier (14:46).
The US statement continues:
“This seizure supports @POTUS Proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels that threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere.
The operation was executed by DHS components with support from @DeptofWar, showcasing a whole-of-government approach to protect the homeland.”
We also got this photo from the operation:
US military confirms seizure of Russian-flagged tanker
The US European Command has now confirmed the seizure of the tanker.
In a post on X, it said:
“The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the@DeptofWar, today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions.
The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro.”
Russia's footage of Marinera purports to show US special forces helicopters near tanker
Dan Sabbagh
Defence and security editor
Footage of a light helicopter tracking a vessel at sea broadcast by Russian state broadcaster Russia Today today appears to show an MH-6 Little Bird helicopter of the type used by US special forces, with a distinctive T-shaped blade at the rear.
Though the film cannot definitely be verified, its timing is consistent with reports the US is trying to seize the tanker.
But there is not yet any footage of an actual boarding attempt.
Venezuela-linked Russia-flagged tanker seized in North Atlantic near Iceland - US media report
NBC News is now reporting that the tanker has been secured by the US forces, quoting US officials involved in the operation.
The broadcaster reported that “the Department of Homeland Security lead the operation with U.S. military support,” and “US law enforcement officials are currently on board.”
We still need an official confirmation, though.
Icelandic coast guard says it is monitoring movements of Marinera
Miranda Bryant
Nordic correspondent
The Icelandic coast guard has confirmed it is monitoring the movements of Marinera, which it said sailed into the southeastern Icelandic exclusive economic zone at around 4am.
The coast guard said it is not carrying any oil cargo.
A spokesperson for the coast guard told MBL.is:
“The Icelandic Coast Guard has been monitoring the movements of this vessel, as with other ships that appear in the Coast Guard’s surveillance systems in the waters around Iceland.”
There are also further suggestions that something is happening over the North Atlantic on flight tracker services, with three US Air Force Pilatus U28 aircrafts, used by US special forces, seen north of the UK coast.
One to watch.
Reported US attempt to seize Russian-flagged Marinera - context
Pjotr Sauer
Russian affairs reporter
The US appears to be attempting to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic in a high-stakes operation following a pursuit lasting more than two weeks, after Moscow reportedly moved to safeguard the vessel by dispatching a submarine.
Russian state broadcaster RT published two grainy photographs showing a helicopter approaching the tanker, saying an operation was under way. Reuters, citing two American officials, also confirmed that the US was attempting to board the ship.
The tanker, Marinera, had been travelling from Iran to Venezuela but turned back into the Atlantic after attempting to evade a US blockade targeting sanction-hit oil tankers operating near Venezuelan waters.
In the 24 hours preceding the operation, multiple surveillance flights were observed over the vessel, including aircraft from US bases in Iceland and RAF Rivet Joint and P-8 Poseidon planes from the UK, which are capable of detecting submarines.
In December, the crew repelled an attempted US boarding near Venezuela, after which a Russian flag was hastily painted on the hull and the ship was added to Russia’s official shipping registry. Moscow subsequently lodged a formal diplomatic protest demanding that Washington halt its pursuit.
The seizure of the tanker would likely strain US relations with president Vladimir Putin, at a sensitive moment as negotiations over a potential peace deal in Ukraine continue.
Mind you, these reports are coming to us shortly after tracking services such as Tanker Trackers and Marine Traffic showed that Marinera made a sudden southbound turn, substantially deviating from its earlier course.
Separately, the US coast guards has also reportedly intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker in Latin American waters, Reuters is reporting.
That’s two different tankers though – our European focus is on Marinera, which was earlier reported near Iceland.
US attempting to seize Russian-flagged tanker - media reports
We are getting first reports from Reuters and Russian state media RT that the US is reportedly carrying out an operation to seize the Venezuela-linked Russian-flagged tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella-1 (11:07, 12:59).
RT posted two grainy photographs showing a helicopter approaching the tanker.
There is no official confirmation yet, mind.
Danish, Greenlandic ministers seek urgent meeting with US Rubio over Greenland's future
Miranda Bryant
Nordic correspondent
Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Danish foreign minister, and his Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt, are seeking an urgent meeting with US state secretary Marco Rubio.
“We would like to add some nuance to the conversation,” Rasmussen said on social media. “The shouting match must be replaced by a more sensible dialogue. Now.”
Trump has claimed that Greenland is “full of Chinese and Russian ships” and that Denmark is incapable of defending Greenland, which the president has said is vital for US national security.
But Rasmussen said after the extraordinary meeting that the US was giving a false representation of what was happening in Greenland.
“The image that is being painted of Russian and Chinese ships right inside the Nuuk fjord and massive Chinese investments being made is not correct,” he said.
The situation, Rasmussen said, was “based on a misreading of what is up and what is down”, adding: “We are looking after the kingdom.”
Denmark’s defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, disputed US claims that the country was not doing enough to protect Greenland. “We have invested close to 100bn [Danish krone] (£11.6bn) in security capabilities,” he said.
Russia reportedly sends submarine to escort ‘shadow fleet’ tanker being pursued by US
Pjotr Sauer
Russian affairs reporter
Russia has dispatched naval assets to escort a “shadow fleet” oil tanker being pursued by the US across the Atlantic, according to reports, as tensions over the vessel escalate.
The ship, formerly known as the Bella 1, has spent more than two weeks attempting to evade a US blockade of sanctions-hit oil tankers operating near Venezuela. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the vessel nearing Iceland’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.
The ship began its journey in Iran and was bound for Venezuela to pick up oil, part of the so-called shadow fleet that moves oil for Russia, Iran and Venezuela despite US and allied sanctions.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Russia on Wednesday dispatched a submarine and other naval vessels to escort the tanker, which is believed to be heading for Murmansk in northern Russia.
It remains unclear where the Russian navy could rendezvous with the ship, but the oil tanker’s entry into European waters has coincided with the arrival of about 10 US military transport aircraft and several helicopters in the UK.
In December, the vessel’s crew repelled an attempted US boarding near Venezuelan waters before abruptly changing course and heading into the Atlantic.
The tanker was renamed Marinera, with its crew hastily painting a Russian flag on the hull, and it was added to an official Russian shipping registry. Moscow subsequently lodged a formal diplomatic protest demanding that Washington halt its pursuit.
The ship has been under sanctions by the US treasury since July 2024, accused by American authorities of being involved in carrying illicit cargo for a company owned by Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group.
Russia’s state-run outlet RT earlier posted a video it said was filmed from the deck of the oil tanker, showing a US Coast Guard vessel trailing it. On Tuesday, Russia’s foreign ministry said it was monitoring the situation “with concern”.
Flight records show the Marinera appears to have been closely monitored over the last two days by US P-8 surveillance aircraft flying from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk as it crossed the Atlantic. Any US military operation launched from the UK would be expected to involve prior coordination with British authorities.
Jakub Krupa
Meanwhile, let’s go across to our Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer, for the latest on the oil tanker near Iceland (11:07).
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