US Seizes Russian-Flagged Marinera Tanker in Atlantic

On Jan. 7, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded and seized the Russian‑flagged oil tanker Marinera—formerly the Bella‑1—in the North Atlantic, as part of a broader blockade of Venezuelan oil shipments. The operation, confirmed by U.S. European Command and posted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on X, also saw the seizure of the Motor Tanker Sophia in international waters near the Caribbean. Marinera had evaded a U.S. blockade on Dec. 20, 2025, and was listed by the Russian Maritime Register on Dec. 31, 2025, after its crew painted a Russian flag. The United Kingdom backed the seizure, while Russia’s Ministry of Transport condemned the action. The move underscores the U.S. enforcement of sanctions against Venezuelan oil.