A Russian vessel seized by US and UK forces in the North Atlantic has arrived in Britain, as confirmed by recent images. The tanker, named Marinera, was intercepted last week for allegedly breaching US sanctions. It was accompanied by a US Coast Guard ship and UK tugboats to Moray Firth in Northern Scotland, where it has now anchored. Notably, the vessel’s transponder was deactivated, rendering it untraceable on Marine Traffic.
The ultimate destination of the Marinera remains uncertain. Following a tracking operation lasting over two weeks, the US European Command announced the capture of the Russian-flagged tanker associated with Venezuelan oil. The interception occurred as the Marinera was sailing northeast in the waters between Iceland and Scotland. US forces boarded the vessel around noon GMT on January 7, leading to a loss of communication with the ship, as reported by the Russian transport ministry.
British forces, supported by RAF aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce, participated in the operation in the Atlantic alongside the US. Defence Secretary John Healey commended the UK Armed Forces for aiding in the successful interception of the vessel Bella 1 en route to Russia. He emphasized the importance of global efforts to combat sanctions violations, particularly targeting the Russian-Iranian network facilitating unlawful activities.
In an urgent statement to Parliament, Healey characterized the Marinera as a “deceptively registered” vessel that defied US directives. He highlighted the vessel’s history of illicit operations and its ties to Iran and Russia. While UK assets were utilized to assist the US, British personnel were not involved in boarding the ship.
The Russian ministry protested against the seizure, citing the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea to assert that no state has the authority to use force against vessels lawfully registered in other jurisdictions. Prior to the vessel’s confiscation, Russian officials warned of potential repercussions on US-Russia relations.