US and UK highlight role of USCG Cutters, RFA Tideforce, and air assets in Russian-flagged tanker seizure

US Coast Guard personnel watch the Russian-flagged tanker Marinera in a photo released on 7 January 2026, as US forces seized the vessel. (US European Command)

US forces seized the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera (ex- Bella 1 ) on 7 January around 200 km south of Iceland, after monitoring it since a failed US Coast Guard interdiction attempt near Venezuela on 17 December.

Confirming the operation to Janes on 7 January, the US Department of Defense highlighted an online post by US European Command that said that The US Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of Defense “today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of US sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by USCGC [US Coast Guard Cutter] Munro .”

Russian officials issued a diplomatic notice to the US State Department on December 31 confirming that the Bella 1 had formally changed its name to Marinera and switched its registration to the Russian ship register, according to the Lloyds List shipping information service. Sailing from Iran, the crude carrier had been sanctioned by the US Treasury for transporting Venezuelan oil exports in breach of international restrictions. UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey said on 7 January that the Bella 1/Marinera