US EditionOil Tanker Seized by US Spotted in Scotland's Moray Firth
The Marinera tanker was seized for violating US sanctions on Venezuela; it was boarded south of Iceland and escorted to Scotland with UK military support.
- Last week, U.S. forces seized a Venezuelan-linked oil tanker that has arrived in Moray Firth, Scotland, with The Marinera escorted on Tuesday by a US Coast Guard ship and tug boats.
- US authorities allege the Marinera broke sanctions by carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia and Iran after reportedly approaching a naval blockade around Venezuela.
- Boarding the vessel south of Iceland, US forces seized it on Wednesday last week after tracking by USCGC Munro under a U.S. federal court warrant announced by The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov.
- The Bella-1 entered UK waters at the request of the US Coast Guard to take on essential supplies, and UK ministers and the Ministry of Defence said disrupting the Russian 'shadow fleet' is a priority, with Secretary John Healey justifying the seizure.
- Operationally, the Royal Navy tanker RFA Tideforce and RAF surveillance aircraft supported US military aircraft seen at Wick John O'Groats and Benbecula airports on January 7, 2026, while the ship had reflagged from Guyana to Russia amid President Donald Trump's 'blockade' order last month.
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48 Articles
Dark fleet oil tankers seek protection of Russian flag after U.S. seizes ships
The dark fleet of tankers shipping illicit oil around the world is rushing to seek the perceived protection of the Russian flag after the U.S. started seizing vessels involved in the Venezuelan trade.
RITTER: It's time for Russia to punch the camel in the nose after tanker seizure
If the US gets away with this voiding of any meaningful Russian response, then it will feel free to escalate up to and including directly confronting Russia on the ground in Ukraine, he writes Scott Ritter, the former UN weapons inspector, responded to the U.S.’s decision to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic for allegedly violating Washington-imposed sanctions, and quoted the old Arab saying, “It’s time to punch the camel …
Oil tanker with Venezuelan ties seized by US spotted in Scotland’s Moray Firth
A Venezuelan-linked oil tanker, seized by U.S. forces in the North Atlantic last week, has arrived in Scotland’s Moray Firth for replenishment. The Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella-1, was observed in waters off the north of Scotland on Tuesday, accompanied by a US Coast Guard vessel.
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