Overview
- Marine-traffic analysis indicates at least 18 Russia-linked shadow or sanctioned tankers have passed through the English Channel since 7 January despite UK pledges to crack down.
- The US-intercepted Marinera, formerly the Bella‑1, was sighted off Moray, Scotland under US Coast Guard escort after a North Atlantic pursuit and boarding.
- UK authorities supported the Marinera operation and are considering further enforcement, with government sources saying the Special Boat Service would lead potential boardings in UK waters.
- Recent Channel transits included vessels such as the Onega and the Pate that operated stateless or under changing flags, highlighting tactics like renaming and reflagging to evade scrutiny.
- Legal and operational risks persist, with reports of armed guards on tankers and an earlier Estonian boarding attempt aborted after a Russian jet warning, and experts caution that single-ship seizures have limited impact on Russia’s oil revenues.