Russia’s Transport Ministry said the seized tanker Marinera (IMO: 9230880), formerly known as Bella 1, was sailing under the Russian flag on the basis of a temporary permit issued in accordance with Russian law and international maritime law. The ministry called the U.S. actions illegal.
The ministry said the vessel was in international waters and that Russia has since lost contact with it: “Today at about 3 p.m. Moscow time, in the open sea beyond the territorial waters of any state, U.S. naval forces boarded the vessel; contact with the ship was lost.”
“In accordance with the norms of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the high seas are governed by freedom of navigation, and no state has the right to use force against vessels properly registered under the jurisdiction of other states.”
Following the transport ministry’s statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry also weighed in. According to RIA Novosti, the ministry said it is monitoring reports that U.S. forces boarded the Marinera, sailing under the Russian flag, in the North Atlantic: “Given reports that Russian citizens are among the crew, we demand that the American side ensure humane and dignified treatment, strictly observe their rights and interests, and not impede their prompt return to their homeland.”
The United States earlier officially confirmed the seizure of the tanker Bella 1 / Marinera in the North Atlantic. According to U.S. officials, the ship was detained on a U.S. federal court warrant for violating sanctions and is linked to illicit shipments of Venezuelan oil. The operation was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard with military support.
U.S. media reported that Russian naval vessels, including a submarine, were also in the area of the operation. Russian officials had previously insisted the vessel was protected by the Russian flag and that pursuit by the United States was unlawful.
