Sanctioned tanker tries to hide under Russian flag after being chased by US
The sanctioned oil tanker Bella 1, which has been pursued by US forces for almost two weeks, is trying to avoid detention by claiming Russian ownership. The vessel, which was heading to Venezuela for oil, changed course in the Atlantic after an attempted interception by the US Coast Guard, and crew members painted a Russian flag on board. This was reported by The Public with reference to the NYT.
According to US officials, the vessel did not have a valid national flag during the first contact in the Caribbean, making it flagless and allowing inspection under international law. The Bella 1 refused to stop and continued on its way. The United States has a court order for the arrest of the tanker due to its previous involvement in the transportation of Iranian oil, the proceeds of which, according to Washington, are used to finance terrorism.
Later, the vessel appeared in the official Russian register under the new name Marinera with the port of registration Sochi. The register is controlled by Russian government agencies. At the same time, the US side insists that the change of flag after the incident does not cancel the status of the vessel as a flagless vessel at the time of the persecution.
On the eve of the New Year, the Russian government sent a diplomatic note to the US State Department demanding that the tanker be stopped. This happened against the backdrop of the Donald Trump administration's attempts to increase pressure on the Nicolas Maduro regime by effectively blocking part of Venezuela's oil exports, which are mainly destined for China.
In December, the US has already taken control of two tankers associated with Venezuelan oil, and does not rule out new detentions. Experts say that the quick Russian registration may be part of a wider practice of using the so-called shadow fleet, which transports oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela to circumvent sanctions. At the same time, the legal fate of Bella 1 remains uncertain, and its detention may carry the risk of a violent incident on the high seas.
Photo: NYT
