Oil tanker Marinera, foremrly known as Bella 1 photographerd at sea in the Singapore Strait on March 18, 2025. Photo: VCG

After the US Army's European Command (EUCOM) said on X that it has seized the M/V Bella 1, also known as the Marinera, for "violations of US sanctions," Russia's Transport Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that it has lost contact with Marinera tanker and accused US of breaking maritime law, according to media reports.

US European Command said on Wednesday it had seized an oil tanker linked with Venezuela and registered as a Russian vessel in the North Atlantic in an operation, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

"The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by [United States Coast Guard cutter] Munro", EUCOM said, according to the report by Al Jazeera.

USCGC Munro is a Legend-class National Security Cutter designed for long-range, high-end missions. It is one of the largest ships in the US Coast Guard fleet, according to Xinhua.

Russia's Transport Ministry said it has lost contact with the Russian-flagged Marinera oil tanker after US naval forces boarded it in the North Atlantic and the US's seizure of the vessel breaches maritime law, according to the report by Al Jazeera.

"In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention ‍on the ⁠Law of the Sea, freedom of navigation applies in the high seas, and no state has the right ‌to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of ‌other states," said in a statement, per the report.

Russia's Foreign Ministry has also said it is closely following reports of US forces boarding the Russian-flagged Marinera tanker and urged the US to treat all Russian nationals on board the vessel humanely, according to Al Jazeera.

In a statement cited by Russia's state-run news agency TASS news agency, the ministry also said the US "should not hinder the speedy return of Russians from the Marinera," according to the report.

On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia is closely following the developments regarding the Russian oil tanker "Marinera" tracked by the US military in international waters, where it is sailing lawfully, per Xinhua.

According to the ministry, the Russian-flagged vessel has been tracked for several days by a US Coast Guard ship, despite being approximately 4,000 km away from the American coast.

The tanker, scheduled to load oil in Venezuela, was unable to dock due to the US blockade. After being tracked by the US Coast Guard in December, the empty tanker painted the Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and changed its country of registration to Russia, Xinhua reported.

Global Times