U.S. Court Sentences Captain of Russian “Shadow Fleet” Tanker Marinera to Jail and Deportation
A U.S. federal court has sentenced Avtandil Kalandadze, the captain of the shadow fleet tanker Marinera (formerly known as the Bella 1), to 10 months in prison, followed by deportation. The Maritime Executive reported on August 10 that Kalandadze, a 47-year-old Georgian citizen, pleaded guilty in June to one count of refusing to “heave to” after the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro ordered him to stop or slow down.
Kalandadze commanded the Bella 1 from September through late December 2025, when it was headed to Venezuela. However, the vessel did not comply with the Munro’s orders and crossed the Atlantic, prompting a Coast Guard pursuit. During the crossing, the tanker changed its name from Bella 1 to Marinera and was re-registered under the Russian flag.
U.S. Forces Board Vessel
On January 7, U.S. forces boarded the vessel between Iceland and the British Isles. The Insider reported at the time that the operation, carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. military with support from British forces, followed a chase that had lasted for more than two weeks. Media reports said Russian warships and a submarine were also heading to the area, but U.S. forces seized the tanker before they arrived.
As it was being pursued, the Marinera attempted to conceal its route. Satellite data from Starboard Maritime Intelligence provided to The Insider showed no stable AIS signal in the North Atlantic, and the vessel abruptly changed course on the day of the operation.
Sanctions and Concealment
U.S. prosecutors also alleged that while Kalandadze was commanding the Bella 1, the tanker carried about 1.8 million barrels of Iranian-origin oil to Asia. Prosecutors said the crew turned off AIS and hid the vessel’s name during a ship-to-ship transfer, a practice in which oil or other cargo is moved between vessels at sea – a tactic that can be used to obscure the cargo’s origin.
In 2024, the United States imposed sanctions on the registered owner of the Bella 1, Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises, for carrying sanctioned cargoes on behalf of Hezbollah. U.S. authorities classify the vessel as part of the “shadow fleet,” a term used for tankers that try to evade sanctions or restrictions on oil shipments.
Original Article: U.S. court orders jail, deportation for captain of Russian “shadow fleet” tanker Marinera — Theins