Reflagged by Russia, spied on by UK, seized by US: why so much interest in a rusty tanker in the Atlantic?

"A massive, rusty crude oil tanker floating north through the Atlantic has become the centre of global interest after it was followed for days and eventually seized by US forces while Russia's military rushed towards it. Despite not carrying any oil, the 300-metre-long ship is clearly of value. Theories for why range from speculation that high-value Russian weapons are hidden in the hull, to the ship's potential to become a symbolic trophy in a transatlantic power struggle between Washington and Moscow."

"Currently called the Marinera, the name-changing ship has long been part of the shadow or ghost fleets used by Russia, Iran and Venezuela to avoid western sanctions. For years these vessels have moved cargo and cheap fuel around the globe, including to China. Washington and its European allies have long sought to crack down on the illicit maritime trade. Those efforts reached a critical point last month"

"The Marinera is the most notorious of the dozen or so oil tankers that have been trying to escape the blockade. It evaded capture in the Caribbean Sea in December, changed its name from Bella 1 and switched course towards northern Russia before being boarded on Wednesday as it sailed in the frigid Atlantic. Marinera tracking map The Marinera has been under sanctions from the US treasury since July 2024 over accusations of carrying illicit cargo for Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group."

The Marinera, a 300-metre crude oil tanker, was followed and seized by US forces in the Atlantic as Russian military moved nearby. The vessel carried no oil yet remained valuable, prompting theories that high-value Russian weapons could be hidden or that the ship could serve as a symbolic trophy. The Marinera is part of shadow fleets used by Russia, Iran and Venezuela to evade western sanctions. US pressure escalated after a naval blockade targeted tankers near Venezuela. The Marinera evaded a December boarding, changed course toward northern Russia, and has been under US Treasury sanctions since July 2024 for alleged illicit cargo.

Read at www.theguardian.com