Venezuelan Tanker Evades U.S. Coast Guard as Russia Sends Submarine Escort
WASHINGTON — A Venezuelan-linked oil tanker, known as Marinera and formerly Bella 1, has successfully evaded interception by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Caribbean and is now under surveillance off the coast of Ireland, according to multiple reports. The vessel, part of what analysts describe as a “dark fleet,” changed its name and reflagged under Russia mid-voyage in an apparent effort to avoid capture. Russia has since dispatched a submarine and naval assets to escort the tanker back to its own waters, escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow.
The tanker’s evasive maneuvers began after the U.S. intensified enforcement against Venezuelan oil shipments, which are subject to sanctions due to the Maduro regime’s alleged illicit activities. Intelligence from the maritime analytics firm Windward revealed that the Bella 1 painted a Russian flag on its hull and officially re-registered as Marinera to complicate efforts by U.S. forces to seize it. The vessel was last reported approximately 230 miles off the Irish coast, where it is being monitored by U.S., U.K., French, and Irish aerial surveillance.
U.S. military surveillance aircraft, including P-8 Poseidon patrol planes, have tracked the tanker’s movements since December. The pursuit follows a series of U.S. operations targeting Venezuelan oil shipments, intensified after the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Maduro appeared in a New York court on January 5, pleading not guilty to narco-terrorism charges and describing himself as a “prisoner of war.”
On January 1, Russia formally requested that the United States halt its pursuit of the vessel, a diplomatic move reported by Reuters. Moscow’s intervention included deploying a submarine and naval escort to protect the tanker, signaling its strategic interest in safeguarding the vessel amid mounting U.S. pressure. Russian state media outlet RT published footage purportedly from the tanker’s deck, showing a U.S. Coast Guard cutter trailing the vessel.
U.S. officials have expressed concerns that Venezuela might place military personnel aboard oil tankers disguised as civilian vessels to evade blockades, complicating enforcement efforts. The U.S. Coast Guard has been actively involved in tracking and attempting to intercept sanctioned tankers in international waters near Venezuela, as part of broader efforts to enforce sanctions and disrupt illicit oil trade networks.
The pursuit of the Marinera/Bella 1 tanker underscores the complex geopolitical contest in the Atlantic, involving U.S. sanctions enforcement, Russian naval power projection, and Venezuela’s ongoing political crisis. The situation remains fluid, with the vessel’s position off Ireland drawing heightened attention from NATO allies and U.S. military planners.
For further details on U.S. maritime enforcement operations, see the U.S. Coast Guard. Information on U.S. sanctions targeting Venezuelan oil shipments can be found through the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The ongoing surveillance and international cooperation efforts are coordinated with partners including the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the U.S. Department of Defense. This episode highlights the challenges of enforcing sanctions in contested maritime domains and the broader geopolitical stakes surrounding Venezuela’s oil exports.
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