Reports indicate that oil tankers linked to Venezuela, operating within what is described as the “Dark Fleet,” have disguised themselves by painting Russian flags on their hulls, changing their names, and reflagging under Russian ownership. This strategy seems aimed at evading surveillance from the U.S. Coast Guard.
The tanker in question has been sighted off the coast of Ireland, where the air forces of the U.S., UK, France, and Ireland are reportedly keeping an eye on it after it dodged a U.S. interception in December.
Additionally, Russian submarines and naval forces have been sent to accompany the tanker back to its waters, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. A video shared by Russian state media claims to show a U.S. Coast Guard cutter pursuing the tanker.
The vessel, originally named Bela 1, has reportedly been renamed Marinera and registered under the Russian flag to avoid capture by U.S. forces while traveling across the Atlantic, according to an intelligence report from a maritime analysis firm.
According to Windward, the ship had painted a Russian flag and changed its name during its recent voyage. Right now, it’s being monitored by the U.S. military, located about 330 miles offshore from Ireland.
Recent reports note that a U.S. P-8 surveillance plane has been tracking this tanker. The military has been focused on monitoring the ship since December as part of a broader effort to intensify scrutiny on Venezuelan oil shipments.
There are thoughts in Venezuela about possibly placing military personnel on oil tankers disguised as regular crew to help avoid U.S. blockades. Meanwhile, the military could be gearing up for potential interceptions.
This action follows an attack under the Trump administration and the recent detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his partner, Cilia Flores.
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Maduro recently appeared in a New York court, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of narco-terrorism, asserting he was a “prisoner of war.” There are reports that Russia asked the U.S. to halt its pursuit of the tanker, coinciding with increased military attention on the vessel.
As part of ongoing diplomatic discussions regarding Russia and Ukraine, this request from Russia indicates a complicated international dynamic. The tanker has been noted for previously transporting significant amounts of crude oil between Venezuela and China.
Windward mentions that this vessel, now known as Marinella, has been facing U.S. Treasury sanctions since mid-2024 for involvement in transporting illegal oil linked to Hezbollah-related companies.
Interestingly, over the last six months, there has been a surge in tankers switching to Russian flags as a means of protection against potential drone strikes or seizures. The identification of other Western-licensed tankers in Venezuelan waters also suggests a broader trend of reflagging for safety reasons.
Finally, it seems that one tanker, Hyperion, has recently left Venezuela under the Russian flag, marking a notable shift in operations. The Prime Minister remains at the Jose terminal in Venezuela.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the White House were contacted for their comments on these developments.
