The US forces have seized two Venezuela-linked tankers, one after a two-week chase, a name change, and reports of a Russian submarine nearby.
One of the tankers seized by US authorities is the 2002-built VLCC Marinera, formerly known as the Bella 1.
While still under its previous name, the US Coast Guard tried to intercept the vessel on December 20 in the Caribbean when it was heading towards Venezuela. The vessel was not flying a valid national flag, making it liable to be boarded at sea under international law.
At the time, US authorities also had a seizure warrant issued by a federal magistrate judge, allowing them to take possession of the ship. The warrant was issued due to the vessel’s involvement in the Iranian oil trade, which placed it on the sanctions list by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury back in 2022.
Reports claimed that the vessel was already seized, however, those reports turned out to be false. The vessel was able to change its course and name to Marinera and was re-registered under a Russian flag.
Since then, it has been pursued by US authorities across the North Atlantic, and Russia had reportedly deployed a submarine and other naval assets to escort the submarine to escort the tanker across the ocean.
Regardless, the US Department of Justice and Homeland Security have been able to finally seize the vessel for violations of US sanctions. They stated on X that the vessel was seized in the North Atlantic “pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro”. The tanker seizure was assisted by the UK Ministry of Defence, with the use of RAF aircraft.
Data provided by Equasis claims that the vessel is owned and managed by Istanbul-based Louis Marine Shipholding.
The US military seized another Venezuela-linked oil tanker, this time in the Caribbean. The vessel in question is the 2004-built, 320,000 dwt tanker M Sophia.
According to the US Southern Command, the vessel is being escorted by the US Coast Guard to the US for final disposition. The vessel was described as stateless, sanctioned, and as a member of the shadow fleet.
Second tanker seized, US Coast Guard intercepts M/T Sophia in the Caribbean
Vessel was falsely flying Cameroonian flag while conducting illicit operations
Now 🅱️eing escorted to US for final disposition under Operation Southern Spear
Two shadow fleet tankers captured in a day pic.twitter.com/Gv0oC1fk2y
