Russia Deploys Submarine and Warships to Escort Tanker Marinera Linked to Venezuela Oil Trade, WSJ Reports

Russia has deployed a submarine and several naval vessels to escort an oil tanker Marinera off the coast of Venezuela, escalating tensions around enforcement of U.S. sanctions in the region, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Citing a U.S. official, the newspaper reported that the operation is aimed at protecting an aging tanker now sailing under the name Marinera, formerly known as Bella 1. The vessel has been under scrutiny by U.S. authorities as part of efforts to crack down on what Washington describes as an illicit global oil-shipping network.

The tanker has reportedly spent more than two weeks attempting to evade a U.S. maritime blockade off Venezuela but was unable to dock and load oil. Despite being empty, the vessel has continued to draw attention from the United States Coast Guard, which has been tracking it as part of broader sanctions enforcement targeting shadow tanker fleets linked to Russian oil exports.

According to the report, the crew successfully prevented U.S. personnel from boarding the ship in December before turning toward the Atlantic. During the pursuit, the crew allegedly painted a Russian flag on the hull, renamed the vessel Marinera, and re-registered it under the Russian flag.

U.S. officials told the newspaper that Russia has formally requested Washington halt efforts to seize or intercept the vessel. On Tuesday, Russia’s foreign ministry said it was following the situation “with concern,” according to statements carried by state media.

Accoding to ShipAtlas, the vessel has now entered Icelands economic zone and is heading towards the Arctic. Her destination is unknown, but if headed to a port in Russia, her course would align with a call in Murmansk. (She is too large for Russia's Baltic ports.) She hanged course after rumours of potential boarding by Ireland.

The episode underscores growing friction over maritime enforcement as the United States seeks to disrupt tanker networks accused of transporting sanctioned oil, including crude sold by Russia through alternative channels since the imposition of Western sanctions.

Neither Russian nor U.S. authorities have publicly commented on the current location of the escorting vessels or how long the operation is expected to continue.

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