In the past few hours, a US operation was launched to intercept and take control of the oil tanker MARINERA (formerly BELLA 1, part of Russia’s shadow fleet), sailing under the Russian flag.

After departing Iran in August 2025, the vessel headed toward Venezuela, only to reverse course after the US Coast Guard threatened to board it in Caribbean waters on 20 December. From that point onward, the tanker proceeded toward the North Atlantic, shadowed by at least one US Coast Guard naval unit.

The move had been anticipated for several days. The recent deployment of US special operations personnel and assets to the United Kingdom - including helicopters from the US Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment - had already suggested that the Trump administration was likely to opt for military action. And so it did.

The vessel was reportedly boarded by US special operations forces, in coordination with the US Coast Guard, which had been tracking the Russian tanker with the cutter USCGC MUNRO. According to US authorities, personnel from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were also involved, as the seizure was conducted pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court. In addition, a US Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft was present in the area of operations.

Judging by images circulated by Russian sources, the tanker was approached by at least one MH-6M LITTLE BIRD helicopter (likely from the 160th SOAR). The aircraft may have been “concealed” from the Coast Guard cutter itself, given that the operation took place on the high seas between Iceland and Scotland—well beyond the helicopter’s range had it departed from land.

(Picture: the MARINERA photographed from the US Coast Guard cutter MUNRO)

Follow us on Telegram, Facebook and X.