Russia Asks US to Halt Chase of “Stateless” Oil Tanker Fleeing Coast Guard in the Atlantic

Russia has formally asked the United States to stop pursuing an oil tanker that has been fleeing the US Coast Guard across international waters, according to The New York Times, which reported the development on January 2.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Moscow delivered a diplomatic note to the US State Department late on New Year’s Eve, requesting an end to the chase.

The message was also sent to the White House’s Homeland Security Council. Russian officials claimed the tanker is now sailing under a Russian flag.

The vessel at the center of the dispute—formerly known as Bella 1—has been tracked by US authorities for nearly two weeks. The tanker began its journey in Iran and was heading toward Venezuela to load oil when US Coast Guard forces attempted to intercept and board it in the Caribbean Sea.

US officials said the ship was not flying a valid national flag at the time of the encounter, making it a stateless vessel under international law and therefore subject to boarding and seizure.

American authorities said they held a warrant to confiscate the ship. However, the tanker’s crew refused to comply and altered course, retreating into the Atlantic Ocean.

In the days that followed, the crew appeared to seek Russian protection. According to US officials, the ship’s operators painted a Russian flag on the hull and radioed the Coast Guard claiming they were operating under Russian authority. The vessel was subsequently added to Russia’s official ship registry under a new name—Marinera—with its listed home port in Sochi on the Black Sea.

Despite the registration, a US official speaking on condition of anonymity told The New York Times that Washington continues to view the tanker as stateless, arguing that the Russian flag was applied only after the initial encounter and therefore does not confer legal protection.

The White House declined to comment publicly on the incident. The US State Department and the Russian Embassy in Washington also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

David Tannenbaum, a former sanctions compliance officer at the US Treasury Department, told The New York Times that it remains “unclear” whether Russia’s last-minute flag registration would hold up under international law.

Although Moscow’s diplomatic move could complicate efforts to seize the vessel, US officials signaled that enforcement actions are continuing, framing the case as part of Washington’s broader campaign to disrupt illicit oil trading networks tied to sanctioned states.

Earlier, Venezuela began escorting oil tankers out of its ports with naval vessels following US President Donald Trump’s declaration of a “total and complete” maritime blockade targeting the country’s oil exports.

On the Frontline of Truth

Our reporters risk their lives to show what’s really happening in Ukraine. Your support keeps them safe, equipped, and reporting.

SUPPORT FRONTLINE REPORTS