Overview
- U.S. forces boarded the M/V Bella 1, renamed Marinera, in the North Atlantic between Iceland and Scotland and placed the vessel under U.S. custody.
- Russia lodged a formal protest alleging the boarding violated the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, with Russian naval units, including a submarine, reported nearby.
- The tanker evaded an attempted Coast Guard boarding in the Caribbean on December 21, then changed name and flag at sea and was added to Russia’s registry after a Russian flag was painted on the hull.
- In a separate action, U.S. Southern Command said the M/T Sophia was intercepted in international waters in the Caribbean and is being escorted to the United States.
- U.S. European Command said the operation implemented sanctions enforcement with DHS lead and DoD support, noting tracking by USCGC Munro, while reported RAF involvement has not been officially confirmed.