U.S. Coast Guard Seizes Fugitive Tanker After Transatlantic Chase

After a protracted low-speed chase across the North Atlantic, the US Coast Guard has seized the sanctioned shadow fleet tanker Bella 1 in international waters near the GIUK Gap. It was the second tanker seizure of the day for U.S. forces, and the fourth since the pressure campaign on Venezuelan oil exports began.

In late December, American forces began chasing Bella 1, a sanctioned VLCC with a past in the Iranian oil trade. The vesselwas in ballast and approaching Venezuela, but as U.S. forces closed in to carry out an interdiction, Bella 1 refused to permit boarding and reversed course. She headed out into the North Atlantic, making for the gap between the UK and Iceland. Mid-voyage, the anonymous shipowner of Bella 1 attempted to transfer the ship to the Russian register and renamed her the Marinera. Nonetheless, U.S. authorities regard the ship as stateless and subject to sanctions.

The seizure is reported to have been carried out by the US Coast Guard Legend Class cutter USCGC Munro (WMSL-755). The USCGC Munro carries an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, a type which the Russian state media channel RT channel showed overflying the tanker shortly before it was seized.

According to Russian state media, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted a previous boarding attempt during the "pursuit," but was unsuccessful because of the often-rough winter weather of the North Atlantic.

Other US assets involved have not been identified. However, air assets suitable for supporting the interception at sea have been noted arriving at US airbases in the UK in recent days, including at two AC-130J gunship aircraft. At the beginning of the week, a US Osprey tiltrotor aircraft was seen conducting a training exercise, dropping divers into the sea off the coast of Felixstowe. Felixstowe is close to the base at RAF Mildenhall where the Osprey-equipped 7th Special Operations Squadron is based. Additionally, three of the small Pilatus surveillance turboprops operated by USAF Special Operations Command conducted a flight over the area on the same day.

USAF C-17 aircraft may have also delivered heavily-armed U.S. Army MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to RAF Fairford in the west of England, based on flight records showing the cargo planes' point of departure.

Compared to these high-end special operations assets, many of which are bristling with weaponry, a Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter presents a low-profile media visual for the seizure action itself - almost a routine law-enforcement evolution, even if heavy backup may have been nearby.

RAF Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth have been noted in the sea area where the Bella 1 was seized, but it is not known if the operation was jointly conducted with UK forces.

Russian connection

While the U.S. government view is that the vessel remained stateless at the time of the boarding, Moscow asserts that the vessel was properly transferred onto the Russian flag registry days beforehand, and that the seizure was a violation of international law. Russia's embassy in Washington had previously asked the Trump administration to call off the chase, according to the New York Times.

"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," the Russian Transport Ministry said in a statement.

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US officials told Reuters that Russian ships and a submarine were in the “general vicinity” when the seizure took place, but these assets did not apparently intervene.

The Russian government has confirmed that there were Russian citizens aboard the vessel, and called for their "humane and proper treatment" and prompt repatriation.