Image: from Stiofán Sopelza X@sopelza
By Open Chronicle News Desk with Agencies
Irish Defence Forces have deployed a military aircraft to monitor the movement of a fugitive oil tanker off the west coast of Ireland, as the vessel continues to evade a US seizure order linked to sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports.
The tanker, now named Marinera and formerly known as Bella 1, has been pursued across the Atlantic by US naval and air assets after allegedly attempting to collect a cargo of oil from Venezuela last month. During its voyage, the ship changed its flag and registration from Guyana to Russia, a move widely seen as an attempt to deter interception by American forces.
On Monday morning, the Marinera was sailing approximately six hundred kilometres east of County Mayo, appearing to head toward a Russian port on the North Sea. US P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft have tracked the tanker over the past twenty-four hours, operating from bases in Iceland and the United Kingdom. At least one French military aircraft has also been observed monitoring the area.
While no US naval vessels are currently positioned near the tanker, there has been a notable increase in the movement of American military cargo aircraft to UK airbases. Some of these flights reportedly originated from US special forces bases and included helicopters, prompting speculation that Washington may still be considering a forced seizure of the vessel at sea.
Officials have cautioned, however, that the aircraft movements could also be linked to unscheduled training exercises with British forces or to unrelated military operations.
A spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces declined to comment on specific operational details but confirmed that Ireland continues to closely monitor activity within its maritime domain.
Out now!
Join a patrol with the @IrishAirCorps in their #C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) in our latest documentary. Watch the full video now on YouTube and learn more about the role this aircraft plays in the Irish Air Corps' mission to prevent illegal fishing and… pic.twitter.com/3PfWgPw7vq— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) October 30, 2025
“The Irish Air Corps continuously monitors Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone through maritime defence and security operations,” the spokesperson said. “These operations are conducted by Naval Service vessels maintaining a constant presence at sea and are supported by the Air Corps’ maritime patrol aircraft. Where necessary, intelligence-led operations are carried out independently or in coordination with relevant national and international authorities.”
The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports under the Trump administration and has already seized two tankers accused of transporting sanctioned crude. Washington maintains that the Marinera was engaged in similar activities and has issued a formal seizure order against the ship.
Russia has requested that the United States abandon its pursuit, following the vessel’s acceptance onto the Russian registry. Under international maritime law, ships are entitled to protection from the state under whose flag they sail, and Moscow’s decision indicates its recognition of the tanker as a Russian-registered vessel.
The incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions in the region. On Saturday, US forces carried out a major raid on Caracas, launching multiple strikes and capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Dozens of people were reported killed during the operation, further intensifying international scrutiny of Washington’s actions in Latin America.
Irish authorities have noted a sharp rise in sanctioned vessels entering Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone over the past year, many of them linked to the transport of Russian oil and cargo. The Defence Forces and the Irish Coast Guard have expanded surveillance and response efforts as a result, underscoring Ireland’s growing role in monitoring complex and politically sensitive maritime activity in the North Atlantic.