Reflagged by Russia, spied on by UK, seized by US: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic?

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Tural Ahmedzade, Harvey Symons, Oliver Holmes and Dan SabbaghJanuary 7, 2026 at 05:56 PM

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The Marinera, a rusty oil tanker, has become the center of international attention after being seized by US forces in the Atlantic. The ship is suspected of being part of a "ghost fleet" used by Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to evade Western sanctions. The US Coast Guard attempted to board the ship in December, but the crew refused. The US Treasury has sanctioned the Marinera since June 2024 for allegedly carrying illicit cargo for Hezbollah. The vessel, previously known as Bella 1, recently changed its flag to Russian, prompting a formal protest from Moscow after the US boarding. Theories for the intense interest in the Marinera range from suspicions of hidden Russian weapons to its potential as a symbolic trophy in the US-Russia power struggle.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

China 30% UK 40% Skipper ×240% Donald Trump 40% Hezbollah 50% Caribbean Sea ×350% Atlantic Ocean ×260% Iran ×260% Venezuela ×470% Marinera ×680% Russia ×590% United States ×790%

Keywords

marinera 100% shadow fleet 90% oil tanker 80% sanctions 80% us seizure 70% maritime trade 70% venezuela 60% russia 60% illicit cargo 50% hezbollah 40%