How a sanctioned oil tanker nearly sparked a US‑Russia clash

An old, rusting oil tanker drifting across the Atlantic almost triggered a confrontation between the United States and Russia. The tanker Bella 1, later renamed Marinera, was part of a “shadow fleet”. During a weeks-long pursuit, the crew switched flags and identities, raising questions about jurisdiction, sanctions enforcement, and international maritime law. Russia condemned the seizure as illegal under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, while the US defended the operation under domestic sanctions authorities — highlighting a growing grey zone in global law and geopolitics. Even a rusting tanker on the high seas can become a flashpoint between nuclear powers.