The Marinera, which was seized by the U.S., isn’t the only ship from the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers to switch lately to a Russian identity, seeking protection.

Lloyd’s List analysis suggests 40 suspicious vessels joined Russian registry last year, with 17 reflagged last month

U.S. forces have intercepted and taken control of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a prolonged pursuit that began off Venezuela, turning a sanctions enforcement case into a high seas drama with geopolitical stakes.

An oil tanker chased by the U.S. Coast Guard paints a Russian flag to evade capture, raising geopolitical tensions and legal quandaries over sanctions enforcement and shadow fleets.

The oil tanker now known as Marinera was seized by the United States on Wednesday in the North Atlantic after a dramatic pursuit lasting more than two weeks.

November 12, 2025: Britain recently sanctioned 135 oil tanker ships as part of a crackdown on Russian efforts to sell oil. The Russian economy has been sanctioned since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Also sanctioned was Intershipping Services LLC, a ...