The former tanker Bella 1 reportedly repainted its hull, renamed itself Marinera and reflagged to Russia while underway, allegedly to avoid U.S. interception. Western aircraft reportedly tracked the vessel about 230 miles off Ireland, and some reports say Russia deployed naval assets, including a submarine, to escort it. Analysts say the ship has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since June 2024 and that a growing number of sanctioned tankers have been switching to Russia's flag for protection.
Venezuela-Linked Tanker Allegedly Reflags At Sea To Russia While Western Forces Track Vessel
The vessel tanker Bella 1 at Singapore Strait, after U.S. officials say the U.S. Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela.
Reports say a Venezuela-linked oil tanker that analysts call part of the so-called "dark fleet" altered its identity while underway—painting a Russian flag on its hull, changing its name and re-registering under Russia—apparently to avoid interception by U.S. authorities.
Tracking, Reflagging, And Allegations
Maritime analytics firm Windward and open-source monitors identified the vessel as the former Bella 1, which has reportedly begun sailing as Marinera under the Russian flag. Windward said the ship repainted its hull, adopted a new name and reflagged while at sea in an apparent effort to evade capture.
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, center, is seen in handcuffs escorted by federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a federal courthouse in Manhattan, N.Y., Monday.
"Runaway Venezuela-trading tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia mid-voyage last week to avoid capture by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Atlantic Ocean," Windward is quoted as saying in intelligence reporting.
International Surveillance And Diplomatic Notes
The Times reported that aircraft from the U.S., U.K., France and Ireland have carried out aerial surveillance of the vessel after an unsuccessful U.S. interception in December. U.S. P-8 reconnaissance planes have been cited in multiple reports as tracking the tanker roughly 230 miles off Ireland's coast.
Reuters reported that on Jan. 1 Russia formally requested that the United States halt its pursuit after U.S. forces continued tracking the vessel. The Wall Street Journal later reported that Russia had dispatched a submarine and other naval assets that it said were escorting the tanker toward Russian-controlled waters. Russia's state-controlled outlet RT shared a video filmed from the tanker's deck that purportedly shows a U.S. Coast Guard cutter shadowing the ship; the video and associated claims have been reported as presented by the outlet.
The vessel allegedly transported millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China between 2021 and 2025.
Sanctions, Shipping History, And Open-Source Claims
Windward has said the vessel has been under U.S. Treasury sanctions since June 2024, accused of transporting illicit cargoes linked to a company that U.S. authorities associate with Hezbollah. TankerTrackers.com has alleged that Bella 1 moved millions of barrels of Iranian and Venezuelan crude to China between 2021 and 2025. These claims are presented as allegations reported by monitoring groups and authorities.
A Broader Pattern
Analysts quoted by Windward say the tanker is part of a growing trend in which tankers sanctioned by Western governments adopt Russia's flag as a shield against seizure and attacks. Windward identified at least two other Western-sanctioned tankers—Hyperion and Premier—that reportedly reflagged to Russia in recent weeks while operating in or departing from Venezuelan waters.
Note on Sourcing: The above narrative synthesizes reporting attributed to Windward, The Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, TankerTrackers.com and RT. Several elements are described as reported or alleged by those sources; claims that involve active legal or military actions have been attributed to the reporting organizations rather than stated as independent facts.
Fox News Digital said it sought comment from the U.S. Coast Guard and the White House; no substantive official public comment was available at the time of reporting.
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