The United States seizes a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic and a second tanker
The United States seized the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker, formerly known as Bella-1, which was linked to Venezuela and transiting the North Atlantic, according to three sources familiar with the operation. And it also seized another oil tanker in the Caribbean, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The operation for the Sailor was being carried out by the United States Coast Guard and other military assets, according to a source. Russian military vessels were in the area as the situation unfolded.
Video released by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shows the detention of the oil tanker Sophia in international waters near the Caribbean on January 7, 2026.
@Sec_Noem/X
In a post on X, the US European Command confirmed the seizure of the tanker in the North Atlantic.
“In two operations before dawn today, the Coast Guard conducted meticulously coordinated boardings of two ‘ghost fleet’ tankers, one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean,” Noem said in a post on [Tanker] Sophia, were last docked in Venezuela or en route there.”
Video released by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shows the detention of the oil tanker Sophia in international waters near the Caribbean on January 7, 2026.
@Sec_Noem/X
The US Coast Guard has been tracking the Marinera oil tanker for the past two weeks after attempting to seize it on December 20 when the empty ship was in the Caribbean and apparently headed to Venezuela.
On December 31, the Russian Shipping Register of Shipping listed the ship, under the new name Marinera, as a Russian ship. The ship’s crew also painted a Russian flag on the side of the ship.
The United States European Command confirmed in a publication on
US European Command/X
The Bella-1 previously flew a fake Panamanian flag and is suspected of being part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which Moscow is accused of using to evade international sanctions.
The ship recently activated its transponder, allowing open source marine tracking websites to locate the ship in the North Atlantic Ocean, near Iceland and the United Kingdom.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it was “monitoring with concern” the situation around the ship.
“Currently our ship sails in international waters of the North Atlantic under the state flag of the Russian Federation and in full compliance with the norms of international maritime law,” the ministry said.
The Bella 1 tanker in the Singapore Strait, after US officials said the US Coast Guard pursued a tanker in international waters near Venezuela, in this image taken from social media on March 18, 2025.
Hakon Rimmereid via Reuters
“For reasons that are not clear to us, the Russian ship is receiving increasing and clearly disproportionate attention from the US and NATO militaries, despite its peaceful status,” he said.
The ship was subject to US sanctions in 2024 for carrying cargo owned by Hezbollah and for providing a form of support to the Iranian regime.
