US Forces Have Siezed the Oil Tanker Marinera After Two Week Long Pursuit

U.S. authorities have successfully taken control of a sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic following a weeks-long pursuit, U.S. officials told NBC News. The vessel, now sailing under the name Marinera, was formerly known as Bella 1 and had been tracked by the United States Coast Guard after failing to comply with boarding requests off the coast of Venezuela.

ShipAtlas data shows that the vessel made a sharp right turn around 12 AM (See below).

According to officials, the Department of Homeland Security, supported by U.S. military forces, launched an operation on Wednesday to seize the tanker. One U.S. official confirmed that the ship had been secured, bringing an end to a pursuit that extended across thousands of nautical miles.

Some reports states that Russia had sent submarines and warships to provide escort for the tanker, however it may seem like they haven't reached it in time.

Pursuit Across the Atlantic

The tanker was initially intercepted last month by the U.S. Coast Guard during efforts to enforce sanctions and restrict illicit oil shipments. In December, U.S. authorities attempted to board the ship near Venezuela, where it had been manoeuvring to evade a maritime blockade designed to curb sanctioned oil flows. The crew resisted the boarding attempt, and the tanker continued its voyage.

Over the ensuing weeks, U.S. forces maintained pursuit of the vessel, which had been renamed Marinera and reflagged under Russia, according to tracking reports. The dispute drew international attention, with Russian naval assets reportedly shadowing the vessel as tensions mounted.