US officials reported the Atlantic pursuit concluded on the morning of 7/1, when the country's coast guard and special forces, armed with a court order, apprehended the Marinera oil tanker. The operation received support from the Royal Air Force and a British military vessel. UK Defense Minister John Healey stated that this action was part of a "global effort to crack down on sanctions violations."

A remote image of the Marinera vessel, released on 7/1. Photo: Reuters

The Marinera was previously named Bella-1 before being re-registered and painted with the Russian flag. The vessel is believed to be part of Russia's "dark fleet", which specializes in transporting oil between countries sanctioned by the West. The Marinera itself is on Washington's sanctions list, accused of shipping Iranian oil to organizations the US considers terrorist.

The seizure followed a prolonged chase. In 12/2025, the Marinera traveled to Venezuela but did not dock. Despite carrying no cargo, the US Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel on 20/12/2025, but the crew refused their request. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the Marinera crew made "frantic efforts" to evade and disregard US Coast Guard orders, and consequently, they face criminal charges.

Images released by Russian media on 6/1 showed a US Coast Guard vessel, reportedly a Legend-class cutter, tracking the Marinera at sea. Maritime tracking data indicated the Marinera was moving towards the area between the UK and Iceland.

The Russian Ministry of Transport condemned the seizure. A statement from the ministry asserted, "US naval forces boarded the vessel in international waters, outside the territorial waters of any nation, after which all communication with the ship was lost." It added, "No country has the right to use force against vessels legitimately registered under the jurisdiction of another nation."

US officials, however, offered a different perspective. When asked if the Marinera's seizure risked increased tensions with Russia, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the vessel "belongs to Venezuela's dark fleet" and is "considered stateless". US Vice President JD Vance remarked that the vessel "pretended to be Russian to evade sanctions mechanisms".

A US Coast Guard vessel tracking a Russian oil tanker in an image released on 6/1. Photo: X/Osint613

This seizure aligns with a broader US policy. Last December, US President Donald Trump announced a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on 7/1 reaffirmed that the "blockade on illegal and sanctioned Venezuelan oil remains in effect worldwide". On the same day, the US Coast Guard announced the interception of the Panama-flagged M Sophia, carrying Venezuelan oil, near the northeastern coast of South America. US officials indicated this was the 4th such vessel seizure in recent weeks. According to records from Venezuela's national oil and gas company PDVSA, the M Sophia was fully loaded.