Russia Deploys Submarine to Shield Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker From US Coast Guard
Russia has dispatched a submarine to protect a sanctioned oil tanker from its “shadow fleet” as the vessel attempts to evade interception by the United States Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean—an unprecedented escalation in Washington’s global crackdown on illicit oil shipments, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.
The vessel at the center of the standoff—formerly known as Bella 1—failed to enter Venezuelan ports to load crude and is now sailing back toward Russia without cargo, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources familiar with the situation on January 6. Despite the tanker being empty, the United States Coast Guard has continued to shadow the ship as part of a broader campaign to identify and detain vessels linked to the illicit transport of sanctioned oil, including Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan crude.
US Officials Confirm Tanker’s Crew Refused Boarding Attempt
US officials told reporters that in December, the tanker’s crew actively blocked an attempt by American forces to board the ship. From Bella 1 to Marinera After thwarting the boarding attempt, the tanker headed into open waters, hastily painted a Russian flag on its hull, re-registered under Russian jurisdiction, and adopted a new name: Marinera.
“Russia is concerned that the United States is detaining tankers that carry its smuggled oil around the world and feed its economy. In response, Moscow has taken the unprecedented step of allowing one of the tankers to register in Russia without inspection or other formalities,” WSJ wrote.
High-Stakes Escort in the North Atlantic
According to AIS ship-tracking data, a US Coast Guard cutter continues to escort Marinera through the eastern Atlantic. The tanker is currently more than 400 kilometers south of Iceland and heading toward the Russian port of Murmansk. OSINT analysts later confirmed that the pursuing vessel is a Legend-class National Security Cutter, the largest and most heavily armed ship type operated by the US Coast Guard.
Boarding Ready—White House Decision Pending
US military sources confirmed that special operations boarding teams are fully prepared to seize the Russian-flagged tanker by force, but are awaiting final political authorization from the White House. Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, coast guards may board or detain vessels lacking verified nationality or suspected of operating under fraudulent registration.
A Shadow Fleet Familiar Pattern
Bella 1—now Marinera—is owned by a Turkish company and is under US sanctions for transporting Iranian oil on behalf of designated terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and other groups.
Original Article: Russia Deploys Submarine to Shield Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker From US Coast Guard — UNITED24 Media — United24Media