A Venezuela-linked oil tanker operating in the so-called “dark fleet” painted a Russian flag on its hull, changed its name, and reflagged to Russia in an apparent bid to evade the US Coast Guard, according to reports.
The vessel has since been spotted off Ireland, with the US, UK, France and Ireland reportedly conducting aerial surveillance after it escaped US interception in December, The Times reported.
Meanwhile, Russia has reportedly since deployed a submarine and naval assets to escort the tanker to its own waters, the Wall Street Journal reported late Tuesday.
Russia’s state-controlled foreign media outlet RT shared a video filmed from the tanker’s deck, allegedly showing a US Coast Guard cutter following the vessel.
The tanker, Bella 1, had renamed itself Marinera and registered under the Russian flag after
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