An aging oil tanker that US authorities have chased at sea for nearly two weeks now shows a roughly painted Russian flag on its hull, US officials say. The vessel, identified as the Bella 1, is sailing in the open Atlantic away from Venezuela while Coast Guard personnel trail it about a half-mile behind. The painted insignia was observed by Coast Guard crews during the low-speed pursuit, and US officials interpret the image as an apparent attempt to claim Russian protection. The development complicates legal and operational options for any US effort to board or seize the ship.
Key Takeaways
- The tanker Bella 1 has been under US pursuit since December 21, 2025, after an attempted interdiction when it made a U-turn in the Caribbean Sea.
- Coast Guard personnel reported seeing a crudely painted Russian flag on the hull while trailing the ship roughly a half-mile behind in the Atlantic.
- Bella 1 is subject to US sanctions for allegedly transporting Iranian oil; its prior flag was listed as Guyana, which US officials said was not valid.
- Equasis, the public shipping database, currently lists the vessel’s registration as “not known.”
- US officials say claiming Russian status could complicate legal grounds for boarding, and White House decision-makers are weighing whether to continue seizure efforts.
- If ordered, a Maritime Special Response Team would be required to board a noncompliant vessel; assets have been readied but no new boarding has been attempted yet.
- Two other oil tankers this month reportedly complied with Coast Guard interdiction attempts, unlike Bella 1.
Background
The pursuit of Bella 1 is embedded in a broader US policy to squeeze Venezuela’s oil revenues through targeted pressure on vessels moving sanctioned crude. The Trump administration announced a crackdown that includes a directive described as a “blockade” on certain Venezuelan oil tankers, aiming to disrupt President Nicolas Maduro’s principal revenue stream. Enforcement actions have relied on interdiction attempts, vessel tracking, and sanctions aimed at firms and ships believed to carry Iranian oil to or from Venezuela.
Vessel registration and flag status matter in maritime law because the flagged state typically has first authority over actions like boarding and prosecution. US authorities said Bella 1 was displaying a Guyana flag when the Coast Guard first attempted to board on December 21; US officials labeled that registration invalid. Public records on Equasis now show the ship’s registration as “not known,” creating a legal gray area that parties on both sides may seek to exploit.
Main Event
On December 21, the Coast Guard moved to interdict Bella 1 as it transited toward Venezuela, but the ship executed a U-turn in the Caribbean Sea and began what US officials describe as a prolonged evasion. Since then the Coast Guard has trailed the vessel at a safe offset, observing movements and recording changes to the hull. Personnel on board said they observed a roughly painted Russian flag on the ship’s side while maintaining distance in the open Atlantic.
US officials described the painting as sloppy and appearing to have been applied by crew members, not as an official reflagging through a maritime registry. That distinction is important because an unregistered or informal display of a state flag does not necessarily confer legal protection under international law, but claiming a state identity can create diplomatic friction. American officials warned that claiming Russian status could change the perceived legal calculus and raise the stakes of any boarding attempt.
Administration sources indicated that Bella 1 is not expected to return to Venezuela to take on cargo and that the White House may decide to halt an active seizure attempt. Nevertheless, the Pentagon and Coast Guard have prepared assets and a Maritime Special Response Team on standby should the White House order another boarding. Any forced boarding of a noncompliant, potentially hostile vessel would carry operational and political risks.
Analysis & Implications
Legally, the display of another country’s flag does not automatically change a vessel’s status. Under the Law of the Sea, a ship’s flag state has jurisdiction, but a genuine change of flag normally involves registration paperwork and acknowledgement by the recipient state. A hastily painted emblem is symbolic but could be used as a pretext to involve a third country diplomatically or to delay action while parties seek clarification.
If Russian authorities were to assert formal protection for Bella 1, US authorities would face increased legal and diplomatic hurdles in any attempt to board. That could force Washington into tougher bilateral engagement with Moscow or into deferring action to avoid a broader confrontation. So far, there is no public indication that Russia has recognized the vessel as its own or intends to intervene.
Operationally, continued pursuit imposes resource costs on the Coast Guard and supporting units. Low-speed shadowing is time-consuming and limits the ability to deploy other missions. The prospect of using a Maritime Special Response Team suggests planners are treating Bella 1 as a high-risk case that would require specialized forces and precise legal authorization to proceed without escalating the situation.
Comparison & Data
| Vessel | Date of Interdiction Attempt | Compliance | Flag Status | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bella 1 | Dec 21, 2025 | Did not comply; fled | Previously Guyana (US says invalid); now painted Russian image; Equasis: not known | Ongoing US pursuit; seizure not completed |
| Two other tankers (December 2025) | Early–mid Dec 2025 | Complied with interdiction | Varied flags of convenience listed | Boarded or detained as appropriate |
The table situates Bella 1 alongside other recent interdiction cases this month. Unlike the other tankers that submitted to boarding, Bella 1 has repeatedly evaded, and its ambiguous flag status complicates enforcement. Public maritime records such as Equasis are a key reference for tracking flag declarations and registration status, and they currently list Bella 1’s registry as unknown.
Reactions & Quotes
US officials described the painted emblem as an apparent attempt to claim protection without formal re-registration, which would not automatically alter the Coast Guard’s legal options.
US official familiar with the matter (anonymous)
Coast Guard personnel reported spotting the crude painting while trailing the tanker about a half-mile astern, continuing to monitor the vessel’s movements in the open Atlantic.
US Coast Guard observation (operational report)
Maritime law experts caution that an ad-hoc painted flag is not equivalent to a valid change of registry, but they say the tactic could be designed to introduce diplomatic friction and delay enforcement.
Maritime law scholar (academic comment)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the crew painted the Russian flag specifically to invoke formal protection by Russia is unverified and remains an assertion by US officials.
- The exact time and circumstances when the paint appeared on Bella 1’s hull have not been independently confirmed.
- There is no public confirmation that Russia has accepted or will accept any claim of the vessel as Russian-flagged.
- The nationality and affiliations of the crew who painted the emblem have not been publicly confirmed.
Bottom Line
The crude Russian flag painted on Bella 1 is a tactical development in an already complex international enforcement case. While symbolic displays do not equate to formal reflagging under international law, they can introduce legal ambiguities and diplomatic friction that slow or complicate interdiction efforts. US authorities must weigh the operational risks and legal justification before attempting another boarding.
For now, the Coast Guard continues to shadow Bella 1 while legal and political leaders consider next steps. The situation underscores how sanctions enforcement at sea can become entangled with questions of jurisdiction, flag state authority, and the potential for third-party diplomatic involvement.
Sources
- CNN — news report summarizing US official observations and Coast Guard reporting (news).
- The New York Times — reporting referenced by US officials about the painted flag (news).
- Equasis — public maritime database for vessel registration and status (database/registry).