U.S. Seizes Venezuela-Linked Oil Tanker in North Atlantic
The Coast Guard helped officials board the Russian-flagged tanker.
The U.S. seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic.
U.S. European Command posted on X that the military targeted the Bella 1 for violating sanctions.
The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of
the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro. pic.twitter.com/bm5KcCK30X— U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) January 7, 2026
— U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) January 7, 2026
From Reuters:
The seizure, which could stoke tensions with Russia, came after the tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a U.S. maritime “blockade” of sanctioned tankers and rebuffed U.S. Coast Guard efforts to board it.
The officials, who were speaking on condition of anonymity, said the operation was being carried out by the Coast Guard and U.S. military.
This appeared to be the first time in recent memory that the U.S. military has attempted to seize a Russian-flagged vessel.
They added that Russian military vessels were in the general vicinity of the operation, including a Russian submarine. It was unclear how close the vessels were to the operation, which was taking place close to Iceland.
The U.S. sanctioned the ship in 2024 “for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.”
The Coast Guard tried to board the ship in December as it sailed in the Caribbean.
Those on the ship rebuffed the Coast Guard and made their way to the Atlantic.
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Comments
“They added that Russian military vessels were in the general vicinity of the operation, including a Russian submarine…”
The reason that there was no military intervention by the Russians is the part that the press isn’t telling you about. There are doubtless American assets watching each vessel with orders from the retired game show host and Fox News anchor to send each of them to Davey Jones’ Locker if they get out of line.
I have no expectation that Russian naval equipment works any better than Russian or Chinese anti-aircraft equipment.
I agree. An armed conflict and the resulting embarrassment is not what China, Russia or Iran need at the moment.
LOL, no doubt. How many Russian nuclear subs have sunk? I’ve lost count.
Would you rather be feared or respected? Right now, we’re both.
I understand that it was shadowed by a Russian submarine and the USN deployed P3 Orion ASW aircraft to deter the threat.
Pay close attention as this has the possibility of escalation.
A very small possibility. Russia isn’t going to attack US Naval assets over a ghost fleet tanker that drew Russian markings mid pursuit. The consequences would be far too high.
Probably P-8s. All the regular USN squadrons have transitioned to them. There are maybe 5 P-3s remaining in a reserve squadron. Sad to see them go. I have a lot of hours in P-3 variants.
Just found article which says P-8s.
https://ie.headtopics.com/news/military-aircraft-track-russian-oil-tanker-near-irish-waters-77970431
destroying the criminals is legit
not political opponents just b/c you dont agree with them…looking at you ,lefty
Watch out as the USSR might play the lbj game of “destroying” their own equipment and claim it was america that did the deed
There you go, another hundy odd thousand barrels of oil in the pot!
I wonder who that oil was destined for? Someone in Europe is going to be upset their purchase didnt get delivered.
Uh, judging by the height of the freeboard on that ship I’d have to say it’s probably dead-empty.
Well, empty of oil, at least. A different cargo has been suggested by many, many sources. Now that there appear to be US personnel on board we’ll find out exactly what it’s carrying.
Oh yes! So you are right!! 🙂 Well, someones still gonna be upset their boaty mcboatface got “kidnapped” 😉
The runaway Venezuela-trading tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged from stateless to Russia mid-voyage last week to avoid capture by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean
The vessel is owned by Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises in Turkey, and its crew consists mainly of individuals from Russia, India, and Ukraine.
Some of the news accounts claim the ship was previously Marinera, changed to Bella 1. Others claim was previously Bella 1, now Marinera.
Reflagging makes shipping so convoluted when done under normal circumstances.
Thank you for providing information that should have been included in the above story. The ship ran dark and spoofed it’s location until it wasn’t convenient then claimed a Russian flag to try and get out of the mess.
And now it’s Cacciatore.
we can at least agree that lefty hates (at least in public settings) that america first is horrible
but in reality
dems pump gas too
and plug their vibrators into electrical sockets ..so they too can appreciate cheaper commodities
I wish Trump would start a self-deportation assistance program for those unhappy Americans. Let them experience Mogadishu, Cuba or some real shithole country rife with fraud.
The photos show the vessel is riding very high –> not fully loaded or perhaps empty? Defer to nautical experts for evaluation.
If the ship is empty, then why bother?
If the ship is partially loaded – that raises a whole set of questions about why a voyage but not fully laden? Could not pay for a load?
Uncertainty at being able to pick up in the wake of recent arrests.
[If the ship is empty, then why bother?] – Because there are court judgements against Venezuela for American companies, and the US seeing assets is the only way to pay these companies back.
This ship is one that’s officially sanctioned, as well. (For smuggling, basically.)
Arrest the ship for its previous crimes?
For those who think “arresting a ship” sounds weird, yeah, I did too until I got edumacated.
“Legal Framework
The arrest of ships is governed by both national laws and international conventions. Key conventions include:
International Convention on Arrest of Ships (1999): This treaty provides a framework for the arrest of ships to secure claims and balances the interests of shipowners and claimants.
International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to Arrest of Sea-going Ships (1952): This earlier convention also addresses the conditions under which ships can be arrested.”
yeah
but then the oars are up a creek without a paddle
I guess because its one less ship available to Europe for moving illicit oil thanks to them being prisoners of their own Net Zero insanity??
any take yet on how the EU is or will sabotage djt?
A cargo ship ‘sitting high’ in open seas? Possibly ‘human cargo’.
Fascinating and extremely detailed article in The Aviationist on this and potentially-related aircraft movements. https://theaviationist.com/2026/01/06/the-saga-of-bella-1-and-us-sf-movements/
It’s an Iranian ship and was apparently going TO Venezuela, unclear from where. Now that it’s in our hands, it’s going to be very interesting to see who and/or what we find aboard.
Finally found a timeline, which makes this even more intriguing.
The ship left Iran on August 1st last year and was spotted near Venezuela on 12/17. I get that we’re not talking about a speedboat here, but does it really take four and a half months for an empty tanker to go from Iran to Venezuela? Did they stop somewhere along the way?
US Coast Guard tried and failed to board on 12/20 or 12/21, and it turned and started heading into the Atlantic. On 12/30 or 12/31, while still underway, it changed its name to Marinera and its flag to Russia.
All of this happened BEFORE we took Maduro off the board.
It was unlikely to be empty leaving Iran. Probably full of Iranian oil, for processing in Venezuela. Or for offloading somewhere along it’s route.
It turned off it’s transponder a lot during that voyage, too.
*Diddy and Maduro sitting next to each other in a cell*
Diddy – yeah man, I feel you, they took my oil too.
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