The United States has seized two “ghost fleet” oil tankers in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean, in a high-stakes operation supported by the UK military.
The seizures, described by the White House as “back-to-back” boardings, targeted vessels allegedly linked to a shadow network transporting sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil.
The primary vessel, the Marinera (formerly the Bella 1), was intercepted in the North Atlantic with the help of British air surveillance and a Royal Navy ship. A second tanker, the Sophia, was apprehended in the Caribbean.
The ‘Stateless’ Dispute
The operation has sparked a diplomatic row between Washington and Moscow over the legal status of the Marinera.
- The US Position: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated the vessel was “deemed stateless” after it was found to be flying a false flag. US authorities continue to refer to the ship by its old name, Bella 1, arguing its recent attempts to change identity are illegitimate.
- The Russian Response: Moscow claims the tanker was “properly registered” and was granted temporary permission to fly the Russian flag on 24 December. The Russian Foreign Ministry warned that “no state has the right to use force” against registered vessels.
Under international maritime law, a ship cannot change its flag during a voyage except under specific circumstances, such as a genuine change of ownership.
BBC Verify: A ‘Rushed’ Change
Analysis by BBC Verify suggests the Marinera changed its flag status on maritime tracking systems as recently as 4 January.
Experts say the mid-voyage switch is a major “red flag.” Dimitris Ampatzidis of maritime intelligence firm Kpler told the BBC that if a flag transfer is “unclear or rushed,” a vessel risks being treated as effectively stateless, giving authorities the right to board.
Richard Meade from Lloyd’s List added that changing flags usually requires rigorous inspections and administration, which “implies they may not have done due diligence.”
What happens to the crew?
The White House has confirmed that the crew of the Marinera will be brought to the US for prosecution “if necessary.”
While the ship is currently reported to be empty, it has a history of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan crude and is now accused of breaching sanctions related to Iranian oil.
Global Impact
The involvement of the UK military marks a significant escalation in Western efforts to dismantle the “shadow fleet”—a network of aging, often uninsured tankers used by countries like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to bypass international sanctions.
The G7 foreign ministers are expected to discuss the legal and security implications of these seizures during an emergency call scheduled for wednesday evening.
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