Reviews & Ratings for the Bella-1

The Russian-flagged tanker 'Marinera', which was seized on January 7 in the North Atlantic, has set sail for the United States after having been moored in Scottish waters on February 26. Previously anchored in the Moray Firth, the vessel was escorted into the North Sea and is currently making its way through the English Channel. The seizure of the 'Marinera' stemmed from allegations of its involvement in transporting oil linked to sanctioned countries, including Russia, Venezuela, and Iran. The UK Ministry of Defence played a critical role in this operation, coordinating efforts that involved US military aircraft utilizing British airfields, supported by the Royal Navy's RFA 'Tideforce' and Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft. Upon its arrival in the United States, the 'Marinera' will face forfeiture proceedings.

Avtandil Kalandadze, a Georgian national and captain of the notorious shadow tanker 'Marinera' (previously known as 'Bella 1'), has been formally indicted in the United States. The indictment was filed on February 12, 2024, bringing two significant charges against him. The first charge involves the use of a false flag, identified as Guyana, during the vessel's interception by the U.S. on December 20, 2023, while it was navigating the Caribbean. The second charge accuses Kalandadze of ignoring commands from the U.S. Coast Guard to halt the tanker and permit U.S. forces to conduct a necessary inspection. Despite repeated radio communications from the Coast Guard, the crew failed to respond, with instructions from the ship’s management directing Kalandadze to alter course and head into the Atlantic Ocean. Initially, the U.S. Coast Guard encountered 'Marinera' while it was heading towards Venezuela to load a crude oil cargo. This tanker had previously operated under a false flag and was sanctioned by the U.S. back in June 2024 for its links to the Iranian oil trade. At the time of its interception, the vessel was registered in Panama, but it was removed from the Panamanian registry in October 2024. The flag was then transferred to Guyana, with the intention of moving to Russia; however, the physical change of flag never took place as the vessel failed to reach port during this period of scrutiny. On January 7, 2024, the U.S. executed a seizure warrant for the tanker, subsequently transporting it to Scotland for supplies. During this process, the crew was removed from the vessel, and in a dramatic twist, Kalandadze's wife filed a petition in a Scottish court to prevent his deportation. Yet, as the case was under judicial consideration, the U.S. deported Kalandadze overnight aboard the Coast Guard cutter 'Munro' on the night of January 26-27. Further legal actions appear to be underway as the U.S. is considering indicting the chief mate of the tanker, who remains in custody with unclear whereabouts. While some crew members have since been released, a number of Ukrainian sailors opted for third countries due to concerns regarding their safety upon returning home associated with their involvement in a vessel claiming Russian affiliation. Notably, five crew members have agreed to travel to the United States to testify against both the captain and the chief mate in relation to this ongoing case.

In a significant legal development, authorities in the United States have announced plans to prosecute the captain and first officer of the vessel 'Marinera'. The captain, identified as Avtandil Kalandadze, a Georgian national, along with his first officer, who remains unnamed, were detained by the US Coast Guard patrol vessel Munro on January 27. Following their lawful arrest for allegedly breaching US maritime regulations, both men have been held in US custody. They are now set to be transported to the United States to stand trial in a federal court. Meanwhile, the remaining 26 crew members of the Marinera have successfully disembarked from the ship, with their repatriation being managed according to standard UK immigration and legal protocols.

In a significant development on January 28, 2023, the US Coast Guard conducted a transfer of the captain and first officer from the seized vessel 'Marinera' to the cutter 'Munro' off the coast of Moray. The captain, a Georgian national, along with the first officer, were removed from British jurisdiction, despite a Scottish court's interim order that sought to prevent their removal until a full hearing could take place. The order was ultimately nullified when the court was notified that the captain had already been extricated from its jurisdiction. Representing the captain's wife, the attorney noted that judicial review could no longer be pursued, given that the U.S. government had taken the captain while he was still under Scottish and British authority. Following a request from U.S. authorities, crew members of the 'Marinera' were permitted to disembark and undergo standard immigration and legal processing. Out of the 26 crew members, five opted to travel to the United States, while others made arrangements to return to their home countries. Notably, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on January 28 that two Russian sailors from the tanker had been released and were en route back to Russia, following an official request made by their home country. This situation underscores the complexities of international maritime law and jurisdiction, particularly in cases involving seized vessels.

Captain Avtandil Kalandadze of the tanker 'Marinera', previously named 'Bella 1', has been in custody since January 7 following an intervention by US military forces. Recent court proceedings revealed that he might be in the process of being moved to a US vessel, poised to depart UK waters. The tanker was taken to the Moray Firth near Burghead for resupply, while 26 crew members remain detained in Inverness under the supervision of the UK Border Force. This information emerged during a petition submitted by Natia Dzadzama, the captain's wife, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, which challenges the legality of Kalandadze's detention. Lord Young granted an interim interdict preventing UK and Scottish authorities from removing Kalandadze from Scotland as further legal evaluations are conducted. However, the judge indicated that no remedies could be enforced against the US. Concerns have been raised that the US government might be circumventing established extradition protocols, potentially violating Kalandadze's human rights. Christopher Pirie, KC, representing the UK Government, noted that they could not confirm Kalandadze's current whereabouts, with indications pointing to his transfer to a US Coast Guard vessel. Meanwhile, the 'Marinera' remains anchored off Burghead as Mrs. Dzadzama's solicitor, Aamer Anwar, seeks an emergency ruling to prevent the departure of the ship, its captain, and crew before a comprehensive hearing in the days ahead.

The seized tanker 'Marinera' has recently made headlines as it was escorted into Scotland's Moray Firth on January 13 by a US Coast Guard vessel and several tugboats from the UK. Currently, the tanker is anchored approximately three miles off the coast of Burghead, located at coordinates 57° 44.01' N, 003° 29.61' W. Speculation initially suggested that the vessel could be en route to Invergordon in the Cromarty Firth; however, such assumptions now appear to be unfounded. Later in the day, the supply vessel 'Kamarina' (IMO: 9499644) approached the 'Marinera' to deliver crucial supplies, including food and water for its crew, as preparation continues for its next leg. For further information, including photos and videos, visit [Herald Scotland](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25762544.seized-russian-ship-marinera-escorted-scottish-waters/), [Scottish Sun](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/15796164/seized-russian-shadow-tanker-scotland/), and [STV News](https://news.stv.tv/scotland/oil-tanker-seized-by-us-spotted-off-scottish-coast).

In a significant development, the United States has released two Russian crew members of the tanker 'Marinera/Bella 1', which had previously been confiscated by U.S. forces while navigating in international waters. This action stemmed from the vessel's involvement in transporting oil for the regime of Nicolás Maduro, which is facing stringent sanctions from the U.S. During the pursuit, the ship attempted to alter its registration from a non-Russian flag to a Russian flag in hopes of receiving protection. However, U.S. authorities remained resolute and successfully boarded the vessel. The crew on board hailed from several countries, with Russian officials confirming that at least two were nationals of Russia. Following their release, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed appreciation for the decision, highlighting a willingness to cooperate on humanitarian grounds. Previously, the Kremlin labeled the ship's seizure as an infringement of international maritime law and urged respect for national sovereignty and navigation freedoms. The Russian embassy in Washington had sought the crew's release via diplomatic channels. U.S. officials noted that this operation was part of a broader initiative to enforce sanctions against Venezuela and the various entities involved. As of now, the status of the 'Marinera/Bella 1' remains unclear, with the vessel still under U.S. control in international waters, and its cargo of crude oil—intended for the Venezuelan government—may have been confiscated either as evidence or to prevent violations of imposed sanctions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has publicly condemned the recent seizure of the tanker 'Marinera' by U.S. forces in international waters of the North Atlantic, labeling the action as an "illegal use of force" that threatens to heighten military tensions in the Euro-Atlantic region. The 'Marinera,' which faced sanctions from the U.S. Treasury in June 2024 for facilitating oil transport linked to Hezbollah and Iran's IRGC-Qods Force, was reportedly operating without a legitimate flag at the time of its interception, effectively rendering it stateless and open to interdiction. On October 7, 2024, Panama's maritime authority confirmed the cancellation of the tanker’s registration with the Panama Ship Registry. The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed the vessel was authorized to fly the Russian flag temporarily on December 24, 2023, in compliance with both international and Russian laws, and that it was merely engaged in peaceful transit toward a Russian port. In response to the boarding and seizure of the vessel by U.S. military personnel, alongside the detention of its crew, Russia characterized these acts as a blatant violation of international maritime law and principles of navigation freedom. Moscow has lodged formal protests regarding the pursuit of the 'Marinera,' urging U.S. forces to cease their tracking activities and withdraw perceived unlawful demands made to the ship’s master. The Russian government asserts that it has provided credible proof confirming the tanker’s registration and civilian status while explicitly denying consent for any form of interdiction. According to their statement, international law allocates exclusive jurisdiction over vessels on the high seas to their flag states, indicating that the stopping of ships is permissible only under specific conditions like piracy or slavery—none of which apply to the 'Marinera.' U.S. officials have disputed Russia's assertions, arguing that the reflagging of the ship was a last-minute maneuver to dodge enforcement actions. The U.S. European Command stated that the vessel was captured under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court due to alleged violations of American sanctions on prohibited oil trading. In response, Russia has dismissed the U.S. reliance on domestic sanctions legislation, deeming it to possess "no legal foundation." The Kremlin has issued warnings that this incident might further destabilize maritime security, potentially lowering the threshold for the use of force against civilian vessels. Moreover, Moscow has urged Washington to cease what it calls unlawful actions and to guarantee the humane treatment of Russian citizens on board the ship.

Russia has officially appealed to the United States to put an end to its pursuit of the vessel known as 'Bella 1', which has recently garnered attention in the Atlantic Ocean. This diplomatic request was submitted on January 1 to both the State Department and the Homeland Security Council at the White House. American officials assert that the vessel was flying a false flag when it was initially approached on December 20, thus categorizing it as a stateless vessel, which may be boarded under international maritime law. In an attempt to assert its claim for protection, the crew hastily painted a makeshift Russian flag on the hull of the ship and communicated with the Coast Guard, alleging Russian jurisdiction. Following these developments, the ship has reappeared in Russia's official Maritime Register of Shipping under the new designation 'Marinera', with Sochi cited as its home port. However, the legitimacy of Russia's overnight flag registration remains ambiguous within the scope of international maritime law. The vessel is now operating under a newly issued Russian Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number, which, as of now, has not been recorded in the International Telecommunication Union database, leading to questions about its validity. Notably, the 'Bella 1' has a history of fluctuating between various national registrations, including those from Panama, Palau, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands.

In a dramatic unfolding at sea on December 21, the crew of the sanctioned tanker formerly known as 'Bella 1' attempted a daring escape from U.S. authorities by painting a Russian flag on the ship's hull and renaming it 'Marinera'. This move was likely aimed at falsely claiming protection from Moscow as the U.S. Coast Guard intensified its efforts to intercept vessels associated with the Venezuelan government amid strict sanctions. The vessel, attempting to flee, veered away from Venezuelan waters and sped towards the vast Atlantic Ocean. Notably, the Automatic Identification System (AIS) has been turned off since December 17, with the ship altering its course northwest, potentially on a route towards Greenland or Iceland, thus avoiding detection. Previously, the U.S. Coast Guard made attempts to stop 'Bella 1' while it was in the Caribbean, recognizing that it was not flying an internationally recognized flag. This omission rendered the ship subject to boarding under international maritime law, but the crew refused to comply, leading to ongoing pursuit by U.S. maritime forces. A seizure warrant connected to the tanker’s prior activities involving Iranian oil was secured by the authorities. The 'Bella 1', now masquerading as 'Marinera', is part of a covert fleet transporting oil from sanctioned nations including Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, flouting international sanctions set by the U.S. and other countries.

The United States Coast Guard is on standby, awaiting reinforcements before making a decisive move to board the 'Bella 1', a vessel linked to Venezuela that has been under pursuit since December 21. This cargo ship has consistently resisted efforts to be boarded by the Coast Guard, necessitating the involvement of specialized teams. Only two Maritime Security Response Teams are equipped to handle such scenarios, possessing the expertise to board vessels, including conducting helicopter rappelling operations. As tensions rise, the Coast Guard remains prepared for an upcoming intervention.

The U.S. government has intensified its efforts against the tanker 'Bella 1', currently navigating through international waters off the coast of Venezuela. This was highlighted by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on December 21, 2025, confirming the situation as part of a broader military presence in the region. This incident marks the third encounter within a few weeks involving U.S. authorities and foreign tankers near Venezuela. During this latest operation, U.S. forces attempted to board the 'Bella 1' but were unsuccessful, leading to a direct pursuit of the vessel, which, in turn, issued multiple distress signals during the chase. The 'Bella 1' is known for transporting Iranian oil, a commodity currently under sanctions, although the precise circumstances surrounding this operation remain uncertain. Notably, the tanker, which is recognized by the International Maritime Organization as a stateless vessel, has also been flagged on maritime tracking sites as operating under the Guyanese flag, adding another layer of complexity to this ongoing maritime contention.