The crew of the oil tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian flag on the side of their vessel and claimed Moscow’s protection while fleeing the US Coast Guard in the Atlantic, US officials said.

The tanker, linked to the Iranian oil trade, has avoided interception for over ten days since it refused to stop near Venezuela on 21 December.

The vessel is reportedly empty, having previously transported Iranian crude. US authorities had a court order to seize Bella 1 because of its history of moving Iranian oil, but the Russian flag complicates the process under international maritime law.

When the Coast Guard attempted to board Bella 1 near Venezuela, the tanker reversed course and sailed into the open ocean. Its tracking transponder has been off since 17 December, though analysts believe the vessel may be heading northwest, possibly toward Iceland or Greenland.

Under international law, authorities can board ships flying false flags or without valid registration. However, if Russia formally registers Bella 1, any forced boarding could create diplomatic tensions.

Bella 1 is owned by Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises in Turkey, with a crew mainly from Russia, India, and Ukraine.

Shipping records show it loaded Iranian crude at Kharg Island in September, switched off its transponder near the Strait of Hormuz, and remained undetected for around two months.

The vessel likely transferred its cargo at sea before entering the Atlantic.

The tanker initially declared Curaçao as its destination but abruptly changed course after the US intercepted another tanker carrying Venezuelan crude on 10 December.

The US Treasury sanctioned Bella 1 in 2024 for transporting Iranian oil on behalf of groups including Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Recently, the Treasury also sanctioned ten individuals and entities in Venezuela and Iran linked to Iran’s UAV programme and weapons proliferation.

President Donald Trump said US authorities would capture the tanker, showing Washington’s determination to enforce sanctions.

This is the third interception attempt by the Coast Guard in December, after two other tankers carrying Venezuelan crude were successfully seized and escorted to Texas.

US officials are preparing a Maritime Special Response Team capable of boarding vessels by force, including rappelling from helicopters.

References: euronews, AA