U.S. Takes Control of Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker at Sea

U.S. forces have taken control of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, marking one of the most serious maritime enforcement actions by Washington in recent years. The ship, now called Marinera, had been evading U.S. sanctions on Venezuela after changing its name and registration.

According to U.S. officials, the operation took place Wednesday morning in international waters between Iceland and the British Isles. Military personnel and the United States Coast Guard boarded the tanker using helicopters and ships, placing it under American control.

The move places U.S. forces directly opposite a Russian-flagged vessel at sea. Russian naval assets, including ships and a submarine, were reported operating nearby during the pursuit, raising concerns about escalation between the U.S. and Russia.

U.S. officials said the tanker had been tracked for several weeks. The ship, then known as Bella 1, first came to U.S. attention after it refused to allow boarding in December. It later changed its name and began sailing under a Russian flag, which U.S. officials say was meant to avoid sanctions enforcement. On Wednesday, Coast Guard teams boarded the vessel as part of a law-enforcement operation, not a military attack. Officials said that once the ship was secured, civilian captains and mechanics would be brought aboard to operate it.

U.S. European Command later said the seizure was carried out under a U.S. federal court warrant issued for violations of American sanctions. In a statement, U.S. European Command said the tanker was tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard before being seized in the North Atlantic.  The command stressed that the operation was a law-enforcement action, saying it was carried out “to support the President’s proclamation targeting sanctioned vessels,” and emphasized that the mission involved military support but was “not a combat operation.”

Moscow responded quickly. Russia’s Foreign Ministry told the state-owned RIA news agency that it was monitoring reports of the boarding and described the situation as “abnormal.” Russian officials warned Washington against continuing the operation, while Russian media highlighted the presence of naval forces near the tanker.

U.S. authorities say the Marinera was targeted because of its sanctions history. The tanker was sanctioned in 2024 for transporting Iranian oil and cargo linked to Hezbollah. U.S. officials argue that repeated changes to the ship’s name and flag undermined its legal protections, allowing it to be boarded under international maritime rules.

The seizure is part of a broader U.S. pressure campaign against Venezuela’s oil industry. It follows the U.S. of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Weeks earlier, Washington imposed an oil blockade aimed at restricting Venezuela’s ability to export crude. 

Senior U.S. officials have been open about the strategy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said cutting off oil exports is meant to pressure Venezuela’s leadership by targeting its main economic lifeline. President Donald Trump said tens of millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil would be transferred to U.S. control and sold, with proceeds overseen by Washington.

The Marinera is not the only ship involved. Reuters reported that U.S. authorities are also targeting a second Venezuela-linked tanker in a separate operation, suggesting more maritime seizures could follow.