Naval assets sent to aid sanctions-hit vessel that has spent weeks attempting to evade US blockade, say reports
Russia has dispatched naval assets to escort a “shadow fleet” oil tanker being pursued by the US across the Atlantic, according to reports, as tensions over the vessel escalate.
The ship, formerly known as the Bella 1, has spent more than two weeks attempting to evade a US blockade of sanctions-hit oil tankers operating near Venezuela. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the vessel nearing Iceland’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday.
The ship began its journey in Iran and was bound for Venezuela to pick up oil, part of the so-called shadow fleet that moves oil for Russia, Iran and Venezuela despite US and allied sanctions.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Russia on Wednesday dispatched a submarine and other naval vessels to escort the tanker, which is believed to be heading for Murmansk in northern Russia. It remains unclear where the Russian navy could rendezvous with the ship, but the oil tanker’s entry into European waters has coincided with the arrival of about 10 US military transport aircraft and several helicopters in the UK.
