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Last week, an oil tanker was seized by the United States while sailing in the North Atlantic and has recently been observed in Scotland’s Moray Firth. The vessel, identified as the Marinera and formerly known as Bella 1, was accused by the US of violating sanctions by transporting oil linked to Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. The seizure took place south of Iceland during an operation that involved assistance from British military forces.
Images captured on Tuesday reveal the Marinera positioned in the firth, a protected stretch of water lying between the east coast of the Highlands and the shores of Moray and Aberdeenshire. The tanker was accompanied by tugboats and a ship from the US Coast Guard, signaling the continued presence of US authorities in the area.
The US Department of War, which coordinated the multi-national effort to capture the tanker, has been approached for further remarks on the incident. The UK Ministry of Defence emphasized the importance of countering Russia’s “shadow fleet,” referring to ships used to evade sanctions. A spokesperson for the MoD said, “Alongside our allies, we are stepping up our response to shadow vessels – and we will continue to do so,” but declined to discuss specific operational details or provide updates on ongoing maritime activity.
It is also known that US military aircraft made use of small civilian airports in Wick, Caithness, and Benbecula in the Western Isles during the January 7 operation. The MoD confirmed that the Royal Navy tanker RFA Tideforce, as well as Royal Air Force surveillance planes, supported the American forces involved in the mission
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