The US military announced the seizure of a second oil tanker with ties to Venezuela today. The Panama-flagged supertanker, named M/T Sophia, was captured in the Caribbean Sea during an early morning operation on Wednesday, as confirmed by the US Southern Command. The vessel was engaged in illicit activities in international waters in the Caribbean Sea, and it is now being escorted to the United States by the US Coast Guard.
In a separate incident, the US European Command disclosed the interception of a Russian-flagged vessel associated with Venezuelan oil in the North Atlantic. The vessel, previously known as Bella 1 and now identified as Marinera, was apprehended for allegedly violating US sanctions after being monitored on its journey across the Atlantic for over two weeks.
The interception of the Marinera took place as it navigated between Iceland and Scotland, where US forces boarded the ship around 12pm GMT, leading to a loss of communication with the vessel according to the Russian transport ministry. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that British forces, supported by RAF aircraft and the naval supply ship RFA Tideforce, assisted in this operation in the Atlantic.
Defence Secretary John Healey commended the UK Armed Forces’ role in aiding the successful interception of the vessel, emphasizing the collective efforts to combat sanctions violations. He highlighted the vessel’s association with illicit activities and its connections to Russia and Iran, underscoring the importance of safeguarding national security and global stability.
The Marinera, described by Healey as a falsely flagged vessel that defied US directives, has a history of illicit behavior and close ties to sanctioned entities. Although UK personnel were not directly involved in boarding the ship, UK bases were utilized, and RAF and Navy assets were deployed to support the US operation. American and British surveillance aircraft have been monitoring the vessel’s movements in the Atlantic in recent days.
Notably, a helicopter was spotted near the Marinera, as reported by Russian media, who also mentioned that the vessel had been granted a temporary permit to sail under the Russian Federation flag on Christmas Eve after being previously registered in Guyana. The Russian transport ministry asserted that under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, no state has the authority to use force against vessels duly registered in other jurisdictions.
Prior to the seizure of the Marinera, a Kremlin adviser warned that such actions could strain relations between Russia and the US. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed concerns regarding potential tensions with Russia and China, emphasizing the enforcement of US policies, including embargoes on vessels engaged in illegal oil transportation.
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