Crew members aboard the aging and rusted oil tanker, identified as the Bella 1, have reportedly painted a crude image of a Russian flag on the ship’s hull. This act is believed by American officials to be a desperate attempt to claim Russian protection, according to a US official familiar with the situation. The new insignia was first spotted by Coast Guard personnel, who have been trailing the tanker from approximately half a mile behind as it sails through the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, moving away from Venezuela.
It remains unclear when the new flag was painted on the side of the Bella 1. This massive tanker has been resisting seizure since December 21, when it made a surprising U-turn in the Caribbean Sea after the Coast Guard attempted to interdict it on its route to Venezuela for oil pickup. Since then, the vessel has been evading capture.
The sloppily painted flag serves as the latest development in the slow-speed pursuit of the Bella 1, which is currently under US sanctions for allegedly transporting Iranian oil. The New York Times was the first to report on this new flag. Prior to the flag's appearance, US officials noted that the Bella 1 was flying under the flag of Guyana, which they deemed invalid when the Coast Guard first attempted to board the vessel. Its current registration status is reported as “not known” on the shipping database Equasis.
Claiming Russian status complicates the legalities surrounding the potential seizure of the tanker. American officials have shifted their expectations, now believing that the Bella 1 will not return to Venezuela for oil loading. It is also possible that the Trump administration may decide to abandon its efforts to seize the vessel altogether.
However, preparations have been made in case the White House issues an order to reattempt a seizure of the tanker. Such an operation would necessitate the deployment of a Maritime Special Response Team trained in boarding vessels that resist capture.
The ongoing pursuit of the Bella 1 stems from President Trump's directive for a blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. Administration officials believe that applying pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's primary economic lifeline is the most effective strategy to potentially remove the authoritarian leader from power.
Interestingly, officials have expressed uncertainty regarding why the crew of the Bella 1 chose not to stop the ship and comply with the Coast Guard's initial attempts to interdict it, especially considering that two other oil tankers submitted to similar efforts earlier this month.