Archive · 29 Jan 2026
US Seizes Russian Tanker, Hands Over Venezuelan Tanker
A big ship called the Marinera, which is linked to Venezuela, was captured by the U.S. in the Atlantic near Iceland.
The captain, who is from Georgia, and the first officer were taken from Scottish waters to a U.S. ship.
A court in Scotland tried to stop the captain from being moved, but it was too late.
The other 26 crew members were processed in Britain, with some choosing to go to the U.S. and others going home.
The Russian government had asked the U.S. to free the crew, which includes people from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and India.
The U.S. has not commented on the situation.
Additionally, the U.S. is handing over another tanker, the M/T Sophia, to Venezuela, which is the first known instance of such an action by the Trump administration.
The U.S. seized the Russian-flagged Marinera tanker near Iceland on January 7 to block Venezuelan oil exports.
Captain Avtandil Kalandadze and the first officer were taken to a U.S. Coast Guard vessel despite a Scottish court's interim order.
The other 26 crew members were processed in Britain, with some choosing to go to the U.S. and others opting for alternative travel arrangements.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had expected the U.S. to free the crew, which includes Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians, and Indians.
The U.S. Coast Guard, the Scottish government, and the British government's Scotland Office have not commented on the situation. Additionally, the U.S. is handing over the Panama-flagged supertanker M/T Sophia to Venezuela.
- Who
- Captain Avtandil Kalandadze and the crew of the Marinera tanker, U.S. officials
- What
- Seizure of the Venezuela-linked tanker by U.S. forces and handing over of another tanker to Venezuela
- When
- January 7, with legal proceedings ongoing and January 28 for the tanker return
- Where
- Atlantic near Iceland, moved to a location off the coast of Scotland and Washington, D.C.
- Why
- Part of U.S. efforts to block Venezuelan oil exports, reasons for returning the tanker not specified
- Tanker Name
- Marinera (formerly Bella-1) and M/T Sophia
- Date of Seizure
- January 7
- Location of Seizure
- Atlantic near Iceland
- Captain's Nationality
- Georgian
- Crew Members
- 28 (including 2 Russians, Ukrainians, Georgians, and Indians)
- Current Location of Captain
- Aboard U.S. Coast Guard vessel Munro
- Legal Status
- Interim order preventing removal recalled after captain's departure
- Tanker Returned
- M/T Sophia