Overview
- U.S. European Command said the Marinera, formerly Bella 1, was taken under a U.S. federal court warrant after weeks of tracking by the Coast Guard cutter Munro, with the U.K. providing enabling support.
- During the pursuit the vessel was renamed, painted with a Russian flag and later registered to Russia, and maritime analysts describe it as a previously sanctioned ship tied to the sanctions‑evading shadow fleet.
- U.S. officials cast the seizure as part of a broader interdiction effort, noting a separate interception of the M/T Sophia in the Caribbean linked to Venezuelan crude shipments.
- Russia denounced the boarding as a gross breach of international maritime law, says the tanker had temporary Russian flag status, and demanded humane treatment of Russian citizens; China criticized unilateral U.S. sanctions.
- Reports say the crew is multinational, including Ukrainians, Georgians, Russians and Indians, as legal and diplomatic disputes over high‑seas jurisdiction intensify.