According to data from the Automatic Identification System (AIS), the tanker is currently located about 300 miles south of Iceland.
According to CBS News, the US intends to intercept this tanker. However, it remains unclear whether the actions of the US Coast Guard have changed following the appearance of Russian naval forces in the region.
The incident occurred on December 20, when the US Coast Guard attempted to stop the tanker Bella 1, which was sailing under a Panamanian flag and heading to Venezuela. The vessel was on the sanctions list due to transporting oil from Iran. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the tanker is currently without cargo.
The crew, consisting of citizens from Russia, Ukraine, and India, ignored the demands of US authorities and changed course, leading to a pursuit by US military forces. In an attempt to evade capture, the crew painted a Russian flag on the side of the vessel. Shortly after that, the tanker was renamed Marinera and registered with the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping.
According to The New York Times, the Russian government sent an official letter to the US urging them to stop the pursuit of the tanker. The request was sent to the State Department and the National Security Council at the White House at the end of December 31. Nevertheless, US authorities continued their actions against the vessel.
