The US military tried to stop Bell 1 on December 21, when the tanker was heading towards Venezuela. When the Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel, it was still flying the Guyanese flag. The current registration of the vessel in the Equasis database, which collects information on merchant ships, is marked as “unknown”. It is unclear when the makeshift flag painting appeared on the side of Bella 1. According to US officials, crew members currently maintain that the unit has Russian status, report journalists from The New York Times.
The tanker has been under US sanctions since last year for transporting Iranian crude oil. This time he was sailing for raw materials to Venezuela, and the action was part of the economic blockade that President Donald Trump imposed on the authorities in Caracas. US administration officials believe restricting Venezuela's main source of income is the best way to overthrow the leader of the South American country, Nicolas Maduro.
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Why is the Bella 1 tanker being pursued by the US?
What does the appearance of the Russian flag on the side mean?
What sanctions apply to Bella 1?
Where is the Bella 1 tanker currently sailing?
Bella 1 is part of the “shadow fleet”. The Trump administration may decide not to take over the ship
The attempt to seize Bella 1 took place in the Caribbean Sea while the ship was heading to Venezuela. After turning around, the ship set course towards the Mediterranean Sea. It is currently expected to sail towards Greenland or Iceland. It is probably not carrying any cargo, say American officials anonymously quoted by The New York Times. They add that it is doubtful whether Bella 1 will return to Venezuela for the oil cargo. Therefore, the Trump administration may abandon attempts to seize the ship.
According to The New York Times, Bella 1 is part of the “shadow fleet”, i.e. tankers that transport oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela. They thus violate sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries. In December, the US Coast Guard already seized two such vessels in the Caribbean. Federal authorities announced that they plan to seize additional ships involved in the operation.
In the case of Bella 1, The New York Times journalists contacted the White House, the Department of Homeland Security and the Russian Embassy in Washington. None of the institutions have commented on this matter so far.
