Overview
- U.S. European Command said the Marinera, formerly the Bella-1, was taken under a U.S. federal court warrant after tracking by the Coast Guard cutter Munro between Iceland and the U.K.
- The boarding capped a two-week chase after the tanker rebuffed a December boarding near Venezuela, reflagged to Russia, and had its crew paint a Russian flag on the hull.
- U.S. Southern Command said the Coast Guard separately intercepted the Panama-flagged M/T Sophia in Latin American waters and is escorting it to the United States for final disposition.
- Russia condemned the seizure as a violation of maritime law, lodged diplomatic protests, and was reported to have naval assets, including a submarine, in the vicinity without direct confrontation.
- The U.K. Ministry of Defence confirmed surveillance and basing support for the operation, describing the target as part of a sanctions-evasion shadow fleet tied to Iran and Venezuela.