The seizure of a Russian-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic has raised concerns among NATO and Nordic-Baltic governments regarding the presence of armed guards and the implications of dark fleet operations.
The recent seizure of the oil tanker Marinera, linked to Russian interests, has sparked significant concern among NATO and Nordic-Baltic governments. Maritime intelligence analysts highlight the growing alarm over the operations of dark fleet vessels and the nature of their crews.
U.S. military and Coast Guard personnel boarded the Marinera in international waters between Iceland and the United Kingdom on Wednesday. The vessel was reportedly engaged in deceptive shipping practices, including flying a false flag and violating international sanctions.
Following the seizure, Russian authorities demanded humane treatment for the crew members aboard the Marinera, which is reportedly owned by Burevestmarin LLC, a Russian company. Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a maritime intelligence analyst at Windward, noted the ownership transfer of the vessel and expressed concerns about the status of the crew, who are primarily Russian nationals.
“We do not know the status of these sailors and seafarers,” Wiese Bockmann stated. “That lack of clarity is common with dark fleet tankers.” The presence of unauthorized personnel, including armed guards, on sanctioned oil tankers has become a particular point of concern for the Nordic-Baltic 8+ group of governments.
“Increasingly, the Nordic-Baltic 8+ governments are worried about the fact that you are having unauthorized people also on board, also known as armed guards,” Wiese Bockmann explained. “But it is highly irregular.” She noted that armed guards are typically found on vessels transiting high-risk areas such as the Gulf of Aden or the Red Sea, where they are deployed to protect against piracy or attacks.
During a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed Russian demands for special treatment of the Marinera’s crew. “This was a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that had transported sanctioned oil,” she stated. “The vessel was deemed stateless after flying a false flag, and it had a judicial seizure order. That’s why the crew will be subject to prosecution.”
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has indicated that it is “closely following” the situation, as reported by the state-run TASS news agency. Wiese Bockmann further elaborated on the nature of dark fleet crews, noting that they often consist of a multinational workforce, typically with a Russian captain and crew members from countries such as China, India, or the Philippines.
“There is a blurring of commercial and military shipping around the dark fleet,” she remarked. “What we’re seeing now is something that has really only emerged in the last six or seven months.” This evolving landscape has prompted European authorities to hold crews accountable for their actions, particularly when captains engage in dangerous deceptive shipping practices.
Wiese Bockmann cited recent examples of European authorities taking action against captains who defy orders. The European Union recently sanctioned a captain who refused to comply with an inspection order from the Estonian navy. Additionally, a French captain faced charges for failing to justify a vessel’s flag nationality after a dark fleet tanker was intercepted in the Atlantic.
As reported previously by Fox News Digital, another vessel, the M. Sophia, was also boarded in international waters near the Caribbean while en route to Venezuela. The ongoing scrutiny of dark fleet operations and the implications for international maritime law continue to raise questions among global authorities.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for further comment on this developing situation.
According to Reuters, the implications of the Marinera seizure and the broader context of dark fleet operations remain a focal point for NATO and Nordic-Baltic governments.