U.S. Special Forces Seize Tanker Marinera Despite Russian Naval Escort.

The United States has seized the Venezuela-linked oil tanker Marinera (formerly Bella 1) following a pursuit over more than two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean, targeting networks suspected of violating U.S. sanctions. This action underscores an escalation in maritime sanctions enforcement amid heightened geopolitical friction involving Russian naval activity near the operation.

On January 7, 2026, Reuters reported that U.S. authorities moved to seize the oil tanker Marinera, a vessel linked to Venezuelan oil shipments allegedly used to evade U.S. sanctions, after a pursuit exceeding 14 days across the Atlantic Ocean. The operation involved U.S. Coast Guard and naval forces attempting to board and take control of the ship while it was under the Russian flag, with Russian naval units, including a submarine, reported in proximity to the engagement zone according to defense and maritime sources.
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Screenshot from a video filmed by crew members aboard the tanker shows a helicopter approaching the vessel during the U.S. interception operation. (Picture source: X channel @WarMonitor3 )

The seizure followed a pursuit that began in December 2025, when the U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board the tanker in international waters near Venezuela. The crew resisted the boarding, allowing the vessel to leave the area and head toward the North Atlantic. Although the ship ultimately did not load crude oil, U.S. authorities continued the operation, viewing the case as a test of legal authority and operational resolve against sanctions evasion networks rather than a response to a specific cargo.

As the vessel moved north, its legal and administrative status changed abruptly. Bella 1 was renamed Marinera, a Russian flag was painted on its hull, and its registration was transferred to the Russian Federation while the ship was already underway, without publicly reported inspection or standard registry procedures. Moscow subsequently asserted flag-state authority over the vessel and formally requested that the United States halt its pursuit, characterizing the operation as disproportionate and directed at a civilian ship.

In the days preceding the seizure, the United States reinforced its surveillance posture in the North Atlantic by deploying additional military assets to the United Kingdom. These deployments were intended to support monitoring of Marinera as it approached European waters. Reports indicated that U.S. rotary-wing aircraft, including Black Hawk helicopters, as well as other military aircraft linked to special operations and logistics missions, were positioned at UK bases to enhance observation and response capabilities. Maritime situational awareness was further supported through coordination with British and Irish authorities, particularly in the intelligence and monitoring domains.

The situation escalated further on January 6, 2026, when the Wall Street Journal reported that Russia had deployed a submarine and additional naval surface assets to escort Marinera as it transited the North Atlantic, approximately 300 nautical miles south of Iceland. This move marked a shift from diplomatic protest to direct military involvement, introducing a state-backed naval presence into what had previously been a sanctions enforcement operation.

Multiple international media outlets, including the BBC, reported that the Russian submarine’s role was assessed as monitoring and deterrence, providing undersea situational awareness while signaling that the tanker was operating under explicit state protection. Russian surface vessels were also reported in the area, while the U.S. Coast Guard maintained close tracking of the tanker in the eastern Atlantic. Russian state media released footage filmed from the tanker’s deck showing a U.S. Coast Guard cutter following at close range, while asserting that the vessel remained a civilian ship bound for Murmansk.

Despite the Russian naval presence, U.S. authorities confirmed the seizure of the tanker based on a judicial warrant, citing the vessel’s earlier status as stateless and its alleged involvement in transporting sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan oil. The U.S. position reflects the interpretation that a mid-voyage change of flag does not invalidate prior violations or negate an existing seizure order.

The Marinera case forms part of a broader U.S. campaign targeting so-called shadow fleets used by Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to move hydrocarbons outside regulated markets. The United States has already seized at least two very large crude carriers, Skipper and Centuries, and officials have indicated that further actions may follow. These fleets typically consist of aging vessels with opaque ownership structures, limited insurance coverage, and operating practices such as disabling AIS transponders and conducting ship-to-ship transfers in poorly monitored waters, increasing both navigational and environmental risks.

From a military perspective, the pursuit and seizure of Marinera involved sustained maritime surveillance capabilities, including U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and European platforms tasked with maintaining continuous situational awareness as the vessel altered course and registry. The introduction of a Russian submarine into the operational environment increased the risks associated with any coercive action, particularly given the broader tensions between Washington and Moscow linked to the war in Ukraine and sanctions enforcement.

The confrontation surrounding Marinera extends beyond a single tanker. It illustrates the increasing use of naval and air assets in the enforcement of economic sanctions at sea and reflects a wider trend toward the securitization of global energy flows. As such, it may serve as a reference point for future maritime enforcement operations conducted in contested international waters.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.